Nashwa Lina Khan, a Moroccan Montrealer, has been making the most of Morocco’s FIFA World Cup run — at least until the team was eliminated on Thursday in a 2-0 loss against France.
She said for Moroccans, taking in the World Cup is about creating connections and giving people the space to celebrate their culture and celebrate pride for their country.
Khan says she took in games in different neighbourhoods in the city, including the Mile End, Little Italy and Petit Maghreb — a small enclave with Algerian, Tunisian and Moroccan businesses in the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension — just to get a “different vibe” and to see different celebrations.
What stood out to Khan, however, wasn’t the celebrations but the heavy police presence, she says she encountered in Little Maghreb after Morocco defeated Canada 3-0.
“There’s a chilling effect when you see cops in riot gear,” she said. “It supposes something bad is going to happen, when historically there have been quite a few games and not a single riot from Moroccan fans in this city.”
Khan says the celebration was peaceful and felt like a family friendly community gathering with babies and grandmothers in the crowd, but that police including the cavalry, intervened.
(Gloria Henriquez/CBC News)
“Every time we’d move they would get the line of horses and the line of riot ready police to push back, push back, push back until we we’re at the edge of the neighborhood,” she said.
“We can’t even celebrate.”
Khan said events like the World Cup, which comes around every four years, have the potential to draw communities together.
“The World Cup is one of those multicultural pulls and policing it makes people pull back and we want people to be connected in a city like this,” she said.
Rashid Najahi, also a Moroccan Montrealer, says it’s normal to see a heavy police presence during big celebrations, even in Petit Maghreb.
“If they saw the celebrations for the Canadiens during the Stanley Cup [playoffs], they will understand that there were more officers there than in Petit Maghreb,” he said.
“They are there to establish order and to ensure respect of the law.”
Najahi has held several screenings of World Cup matches where he reminds viewers to celebrate safely and legally.
“Don’t go honking, don’t make noise, respect traffic laws, respect the laws,” he said. “One minute of folly can cost you $1,590, so be careful and respect the law.”
(Gloria Henriquez/CBC News)
‘Zero tolerance,’ police say
In an email statement to CBC, Montreal police (SPVM) said they have increased their presence during World Cup viewings and have adjusted their actions in real time according to the behaviour of crowds.
They say their role is to ensure peace and order as well as the safety of people and property, according to the law. And while they are encouraging people to celebrate, they should do so while respecting the law.
“There will be zero tolerance for actions that violate current laws and regulations,”
As of July 10, the SPVM has handed out 788 tickets linked to World Cup festivities in Montreal.
Police said the infractions include, car surfing, honking without a valid reason, not wearing a seat belt, using a phone will driving, and revving or idling car engines unnecessarily.
Some of the penalties can be serious. Car surfing can result in a licence suspension, vehicle impoundment and fines of up to $3,000.
Khan, however, believes police should be a little more tolerant and allow communities to foster those moments without feeling watched.
“People should be able to celebrate in their neighbourhoods and their communities,” she said. “I think if it’s not harming anybody in any overt way, we should have moments of joy.”