The Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) held On April 25, 2025, held a tribute ceremony and panel discussion at the International Book and Publishing Fair in Rabat to honor Lalla Khiti Amina Benhachem Alaoui, the first Moroccan journalist at the RTBF, Belgium’s public broadcaster. The event, moderated by Merouane Touali, communication consultant, featured speakers including researcher Hassan Bousetta, Belgian journalist Sara El Massaoudi, Karim Ibourki (President of Belgium’s Superior Audiovisual Council), French journalist Claire Frachon, and Lalla Khiti’s children, Dounia and Safaa-Eddine Taghian.
Lalla Khiti, a Belgian-Moroccan journalist, began her career at RTBF in 1973, producing and hosting programs like “Ileikoum”, “Sindbad”, and “1001 Cultures” aimed at Moroccan and Arabic-speaking migrant communities in Belgium.
These shows addressed cultural, social, and political issues related to immigration. Her work, often in collaboration with her husband, filmmaker Mehrdad Taghian, gained prominence during the 1991 Belgian riots for highlighting positive initiatives and migrant stories, earning better airtime and French subtitles. Her programs were also broadcast on TV5.
The panel emphasized Lalla Khiti’s pioneering role in shaping the representation of Moroccan immigrants in Belgian media during a time when immigration was viewed as temporary. Her work linked cultures, fostering dialogue between Moroccan and Belgian communities and inspiring younger generations, including journalists like Sarra El Massaoudi, who continues documenting Belgian-Moroccan and racialized communities through her podcast “Nos Héritages”. A podcast for first-generation immigrants to share their stories and addresses the lack of diversity in Belgian media.
Karim Lbourki noted that Lalla Khiti’s programs were groundbreaking in showing both Belgians and Moroccans their shared society, though media representation remains challenging, with persistent stereotypes and elitism. Her children expressed pride in their mother’s legacy of openness, respect, and Moroccan heritage.
In a message read during the event, Lalla Khiti described her career as a “bridge” between cultures, generations, and identities, evolving from Arabic-language programs for first-generation immigrants to French-language content for Belgian-born youth “navigating” multicultural identities.
Lalla Saida, Lalla Khiti’s sister, spoke on behalf of the family, celebrating her sister’s work as a victory for cultural awareness and a call to uphold thoughtful values in a fast-paced world. Lalla Khiti’s career, which spanned decades until her retirement in 2010, reflected the history and transformation of Moroccan immigration in Belgium. This is the second time the CCME has honored her, the first being in Brussels in 2010.
