Tahar Ben Jelloun. In September 2006, Tahar Ben Jelloun was awarded a special prize for "peace and friendship between peoples" at Lazio between Europe and the Mediterranean Festival.

Zacarias Moussaoui is a French citizen of Moroccan descent who was convicted of conspiring to kill Americans as part of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. As a result of his conviction, he is serving a life sentence at the Federal ADX Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado.

Rachida Dati (Arabic رشيدة داتي "rašīda dātī", born November 27, 1965 in Saint-Rémy, Burgundy) is a French politician of Moroccan and Algerian descent. She was appointed Minister of Justice on the 18th of May 2007 by Nicolas Sarkozy. She was Nicolas Sarkozy's spokeswoman during the 2007 French presidential election.

Jean Reno (born Juan Moreno y Herrera Jiménez while French sources spell it as Don Juan Moreno Errere y Rimenes. on July 30, 1948) is a French actor. Working in both French and English, he has appeared in numerous successful Hollywood productions, but also European productions such as the 2005 Italian film "The Tiger and the Snow".

Gad Elmaleh (born April 19 1971, Casablanca, Morocco) is a Moroccan Jewish one man show humorist and actor who lives in France. His latest show is called "L'autre c'est moi" (The other one: that's me).

Hind Dehiba (born 17 March 1979) is a Moroccan-French runner who specializes in the 1500 metres. In January 2007 Dehiba was arrested on Charles de Gaulle International Airport together with her coach and husband Fodil after vials containing human growth hormone were found in her luggage. Both were released, but Fodil Dehiba will be investigated for illegal drug trafficking. In 2006 Dehiba was found guilty of EPO doping, …

Driss Chraïbi was a Moroccan author whose novels deal with colonialism, culture clashes, generational conflict and the treatment of women and are often semi-autobiographical. Born in El Jadida and educated in Casablanca, Chraïbi went to Paris in 1946 to study chemistry before turning to literature and journalism. His first novel, "The Simple Past", was published in 1954.

Youssouf Hadji (born 25 February 1980 in Ifrane, Morocco) is a Moroccan footballer who plays as an attacker. He currently plays for AS Nancy-Lorraine in Ligue 1, the top football division in France. Hadji started his career at Nancy in Ligue 1 under the guidance of Laszlo Bölöni. Nancy were relegated to Ligue 2 in 2000, but Hadji remained loyal and played on for another three seasons.

Mounir Soufiani (born 29 August, 1981 in Bourges, France) is a Moroccan football player. he currently plays for Royal Antwerp FC. He was loaned to FC St. Gallen on January 2004 from Stade Laval He caped for Morocco U-23 team once against Montpellier HSC.

Marouane Chamakh (born on 10 January, 1984 in Tonneins, France) is a French-Moroccan football player who plays as a striker. Despite being born in France, he is a full international player for Morocco. Chamakh currently plays for Girondins de Bordeaux in the French top flight Ligue 1. <br> <br>

Saïd Taghmaoui is an actor and screenwriter. He was born in the Parisian suburb of Villepinte, France, into a large family (nine siblings total) of Moroccan parents. He dropped out of school to become a boxer and eventually was ranked number 2 in his weight class in France. Later he met Mathieu Kassovitz and together, they co-wrote the script for the award winning film "La Haine" (about race and violence in the suburban ghettoes of Paris).

Cyril "Marseille Bad Boy" Abidi (born on February 25, 1976) is a French kickboxer with Morrocan descent. His road to fame started in the year 2000 when he entered K-1 and created a huge upset with a 1st Round KO win over legendary Peter Aerts. The same year at K-1 World GP 2000 in Yokohama he met Peter Aerts again in a rematch and took another TKO win over the famous Dutch fighter.

Nabil El Zhar is a Morrocan professional football player currently playing for Liverpool FC. He can play wide or right behind the striker. Although born in France, El Zhar opted to play internationally for the country of his parents, Morocco. However he has represented France at youth level. In the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship El Zhar was one of the stars of the tournament, and helped guide Morocco to the semi-finals, where they were defeated 3-0 by Nigeria.

Ahmed Kantari (born June 28, 1985 in Blois, Centre) is a French footballer currently playing for RC Strasbourg.

Yacine Abdessadki (born January 1, 1981 in Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) is a French-born Moroccan football midfielder currently playing for RC Strasbourg in the French Ligue 2.

Mustapha Hadji is former a Moroccan international footballer. His younger brother, Youssouf Hadji, is also a Moroccan international and currently plays for AS Nancy. Hadji, nicknamed "Mous", immigrated with his family at an early age to France. They first settled at Saint-Etienne, then Monceau, and finally Creutzwald. Mustapha Hadji began playing football there.

Ismaël Ferroukhi is a French-Moroccan film director. Ferroukhi was born in Kenitra. He gained exposure with his 1992 short film "L'Exposé", which won the Kodak Prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. Following, Ferroukhi co-wrote the Cédric Kahn film "Trop de Bonheur" (1994). His directorial debut "Le Grand Voyage", produced by Humbert Balsan and Ognon Pictures, …

Abdelatif Benazzi (born August 20, 1968) is a French-Moroccan rugby union footballers who represented both Morocco and France. He played as a lock or back row forward. Abdel Benazzi started out with his homeland Morocco, but his ability was quickly spotted by France's selectors. He won his first France cap in 1990 against Australia and went on to make 78 appearances and score nine tries for "Les Bleus".

Mehdi Taouil (born May 20, 1983 in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges) is a Moroccan football player. He currently plays for Montpellier in Ligue 2, which he signed a 2 year contract with club in June 2005. He was part of the Moroccan 2004 Olympic football team, who exited in the first round, finishing third in group D, behind group winners Iraq and runners-up Costa Rica

Monsef Zerka is a French-Moroccan professional football (soccer) player. He plays for AS Nancy, usually as a striker, but originally played as fullback then in midfield. Playing for US Orléans as a youngster, Zerka was signed by Nancy on the recommendation of his coach Jacques Quéré. He completed the final years of his apprenticeship at Nancy before making his debut in 2001.

Chico Bouchikhi is a musician and a co-founder of The Gipsy Kings. His real name is "Jahloul Bouchikhi", and he is of Moroccan descent. He is married to the daughter of José Reyes, member of the The Gipsy Kings. He later left The Gipsy Kings and founded Chico and the Gypsies. His brother, Ahmed Bouchiki, was assassinated by Mossad who mistook him for Ali Hassan Salameh in the so called Lillehammer affair in July 1973.

Roger Karoutchi is the Secretary of State for Parliamentary Relations in the French government of François Fillon. He is an Jewish-French politician born in Casablanca in a family with Italians roots.

Malika Oufkir (born April 2, 1953) is a Moroccan writer and former "disappeared". She is the daughter of General Mohamed Oufkir and a cousin of fellow Moroccan writer and actress Leila Shenna.

Bouchra Ghezielle (born 19 May, 1979 in Khemisset) is a Morrocan-French track and field athlete, now competing for France. She compete mainly on the 1500 m distance but also on 800 m and 3000 m distances. She competed at the 2004 Olympic Games for Morocco.

Merieme Chadid (born October 11, 1969) is a Moroccan astronomer and researcher at Dome C, Concordia Research Station in Antarctica. She is considered the first astronomer in the world to have been committed to install a large astronomical observatory in Antarctica.

Hoalid Regragui also called Walid Regragui (born September 23, 1975 in Corbeil-Essonnes, France) is a Moroccan Football (soccer) player who plays as a Defender. Despite being born in France, he is a full international for Morocco. His previous club is AC Ajaccio and Racing de Santander. Regragui currently plays for Dijon FCO in the French Ligue 2.

Larbi Benbarek or Larbi Ben Barek (also known as the Black Pearl) (June 16, 1914 - September 16, 1992) (Casablanca, Morocco) was a Moroccan football player. He was the first player to bear the nickname of "Black Pearl". The first African star and the first to bear the nickname of "Black Pearl", Ben Barek blazed a trail to the European, and particularly French and Spanish, leagues.

Houssine Kharja is a France born Moroccan football player. He is 181 cm tall and weighs 77 Kg. Kharja started his career for Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, and he joined Ternana in 2001. He played four impressive Serie B seasons for the "rossoverdi", gaining a place in the Morocco national football team, and being loaned to AS Roma in 2005. In Rome Kharja played 12 matches and scored one goal during a 1-1 draw against Juventus.

Brahim Lahlafi is a retired long-distance runner who represented Morocco during his active career. He acquired French citizenship on April 6 2002, but represented Morocco again from 15 March 2007. His greatest achievement was the Olympic bronze medal in 2000. This was his first medal at a major international event, …

Driss El Himer (born April 4 1974, Kezazna, Morocco) is a French long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 2004 Olympics, finishing 68th. He finished 6th in the long race at the 2001 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, 11th in the 5000m final at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, and 8th in the 10,000m final at the 2006 European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg.

Abderrahim El Haouzy is a French sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres. He represented his birth country Morocco until 2003. He finished sixth in 4x400 m relay at the 2005 World Championships, together with teammates Leslie Djhone, Naman Keïta and Marc Raquil. His personal best time is 45.82 seconds, achieved in May 2006 in Brazzaville.

Driss Maazouzi is a French 1500 metres runner who won a bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton. He won the 2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships. Maazouzi represented Morocco up to and during the 1996 Summer Olympics, but as a naturalised citizen of France he switched nationality shortly afterwards.

Mounir Yemmouni (born 12 October 1983 in Ouirine, Morocco) is a French middle distance runner who specializes in the 1500 metres. He competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2005 World Championships without reaching the finals. At the end of 2005 he finished eleventh in 3000 metres at the World Athletics Final. In 2006 he competed at the World Indoor Championships and the European Championships, again without reaching the finals.

Karim Azizou (born 20 January, 1985 in Périgueux, France) is a Moroccan football (soccer) right back. He currently plays for Triestina. He signed three year contract until 2008.

Ismaïl Sghyr is a French runner who won a bronze medal at the over 3000 metres at the 1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships. In 5000 metres he finished fourth at the World Championships the same year, as well as winning a bronze medal at the 2002 European Championships. In 10000 metres he won the 1997 Mediterranean Games. Sghyr formerly represented Morocco, but as many other Moroccan runners he switched nationality to France.

Ali El Omari in Châteaudun, France, is an French-Moroccan football player who is currently playing for Créteil in the French second division.

Salim Jay is a Moroccan novelist, essayist and literary critic. He was born in Paris from a Moroccan father and a French mother. He has written about 20 books, numerous essays and more than thousand newspaper articles. His "Dictionnaire des Écrivains marocains", published in 2005 by "éditions EDDIF (Maroc)" and "Paris-Méditérannée (France)" is a biographical dictionary of Moroccan writers who have expressed themselves in French language.

Michaël Chrétien Basser is a French-Moroccan professional football (soccer) player. A right-sided fullback, he plays for AS Nancy. Born in Nancy, Chrétien has only ever played for his local club, having been linked with AS Nancy since the age of five. After leaving for two years to attend the Medina academy in Meuse, FC Metz and AJ Auxerre showed an interest in signing him, but he chose to remain loyal to Nancy.

Jean-Paul Bertrand-Demanes (born May 23, 1952 in Casablanca, Morocco) is a former football goalkeeper from France, who earned eleven international caps for the French national team during the 1970s. A player of FC Nantes (1969-1987), he was a member of the French team in the 1978 FIFA World Cup.

Abdellah Béhar is a Moroccan-born French runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and cross-country running.