Introduction

The rise of the theme of immigration in Francophone literature after World War II is discussed, particularly the plight of immigrants from North African countries such as Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia in Western societies. Tahar Ben Jelloun, a Moroccan-born Francophone writer, explores the issues faced by Moroccan immigrants through his works Leaving Tangier and The Palace in the Old Village, depicting their challenges in Europe and their stories of returning to Morocco. These two works reveal the real struggles of Moroccan immigrants in Western societies, offering new perspectives for understanding post-colonial Morocco and its relationship with the West, while helping to dismantle stereotypes and prejudices against this group.

1. Distancing from Arab-Islamic Traditions: The Dilemma Between Assimilation and Rejection

The cultural identity conflicts and dilemmas faced by Moroccan immigrants in European societies are examined. Immigrant communities struggle between assimilating into new societies and preserving their own traditions, with the stark differences between Arab-Islamic and European cultures exacerbating this issue. In Leaving Tangier, the protagonist Azel must abandon some principles of Arab-Islamic culture to survive in Spain, becoming Miguel’s servant and homosexual lover—a symbol of the subjugation of Arab-Islamic culture in the face of Western dominance. In The Palace in the Old Village, the second-generation immigrant children are eager to shed their "Arab-Islamic" identity to integrate into Western European society, but such efforts often prove futile. They lack collective memory of their parents' homeland yet cannot fully assimilate into Western European society, becoming "rootless legal residents." This dilemma forces Moroccan immigrants in Europe to grapple with the question, "Who am I?"—they are Arabs and Muslims yet indifferent to Arab culture and Islam; they hold citizenship in France, Spain, or the Netherlands yet feel no sense of belonging to these nations.

2. Complex Emotions Toward the Homeland: The Contradictory Choice Between "Leaving" and "Returning"

The ambivalent feelings of immigrants toward their homeland are explored, particularly the conflicting choices of the first generation between their new country and their roots. Immigrants often leave their homeland due to the economic, social, political, and cultural advantages of their new country, but the differences, conflicts, and discrimination they encounter may rekindle nostalgia for home. In Ben Jelloun’s works, Moroccan immigrants leave their country due to the post-colonial crisis following Morocco’s independence, which left the nation underdeveloped and many in poverty. Azel and Marika in Leaving Tangier embody the Moroccan desire for a better life, while Mohammed in The Palace in the Old Village reflects a deep attachment to the homeland. Despite the loneliness and discrimination they face abroad, their emotional ties to their homeland persist. Through depictions of "leaving" and "returning," Ben Jelloun captures their sense of helplessness and the complex, contradictory emotions they hold toward their homeland.

3. Religious Extremism: The Alienation of Immigrant Religious and Cultural Identity

The phenomenon of European Muslim immigrants, particularly the younger generation, turning to religious extremism is examined. This not only severs their ties with traditional religious and cultural identities but also subjects them to marginalization and stereotypes in Western European societies. Ben Jelloun clearly distinguishes between Islam and Islamic radicalism in his works, illustrating how extremism distorts the identities and beliefs of Moroccan immigrants. He emphasizes that Islamic radicalism misrepresents the essence of Islam, using it as a tool for violent agendas. Ben Jelloun also highlights the diversity and moderate mainstream of Islam, as well as Morocco’s historical coexistence of different faiths. He calls for a return to authentic Islam, stressing personal responsibility and moral conduct while rejecting the use of Islam as a justification for violence and terrorism.

Conclusion

As a North African Francophone writer bridging Moroccan Arab-Islamic and Western cultures, Tahar Ben Jelloun portrays the lives of Moroccan immigrants with a humanitarian lens, capturing their emotions and experiences. His works reveal that the root of immigrant tragedies lies in colonial history, not cultural or religious backwardness. In the post-colonial era, many immigrants leave their impoverished homelands yet struggle to live with dignity in their new Western homes, losing family, culture, homeland, and language. Through literature, Ben Jelloun’s works combat hatred, prejudice, and discrimination against immigrants, contributing to the dismantling of these stereotypes.