Bitaqat Khub (Arabic: ﺑﻂﺎﻗﺔ ﺣﺐ, English translation: "Love Message", also transliterated Bitaqat Hub, Bitaqat Hob and in many other manners) was the Moroccan entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, performed in Arabic by Samira. This was Morocco's first (and, to date, only) appearance at the Contest. Consequently, this was also the first - and only - entry to be performed in Arabic, to represent a geopolitically African country (Malta, while geographically part of the African plate is geopolitically in Europe) and to represent an Arab world country. The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was the 25th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on April 19, 1980 in The Hague. ... Samira Saïd is a Moroccan pop singer. ... The Arabic language ( ), or simply Arabic ( ), is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew, Amharic and Aramaic. ... The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing the Arabic language, which is the language of the Quran, the holy book of Islam. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was the 25th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on April 19, 1980 in The Hague. ... The Arabic language ( ), or simply Arabic ( ), is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew, Amharic and Aramaic. ... Samira Saïd is a Moroccan pop singer. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ...  The African plate, shown in pinkish-orange The African Plate is a tectonic plate covering the continent of Africa and extending westward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. ... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is one of the six inhabited continents of the Earth. ... Map of Arab League states in dark green with non-Arab areas in light green and Somalia and Djibouti in striped green due to their Arab League membership but non-Arab population. ...

The reason for these apparent anomalies is that entry to the Eurovision Song Contest is open to all members of the European Broadcasting Union, a group containing states in North Africa and the Middle East. Indeed, Tunisia had intended to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977, and would therefore have been involved in many of these "firsts" had it not pulled out beforehand. Subsequently, Lebanon also intended to compete in 2005 and had selected and recorded a song before withdrawing due to a refusal to broadcast the Israeli entry, a move which incurred a fine and a ban from the Contest until 2009.[1] Eurovision Song Contest logo. ... Logo of the EBU/UER. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), known in French as LUnion Européenne de Radio-Télévision (UER), and unrelated to the European Union, was formed on 12 February 1950 by 23 broadcasting organizations from Europe and the Mediterranean at a conference in the...  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... The Eurovision Song Contest 1977 was the twenty second Eurovision and was held on May 7, 1977 in London. ... The presenters, Maria Efrosinina and Pavlo Shylko. ...

The song itself is a moderately up-tempo number, with Arabic overtones. Samira sings of the need for peace among the nations of the world, taking the role of "the children of the world" in order to describe a vision of a war-free, hatred-free society in which "Life is now full of peace". Arab music is the music of Arabic-speaking people or countries, especially those centered around the Arabian Peninsula. ...

The song was performed fifth on the night (following Luxembourg's Sophie & Magaly with Papa Pingouin and preceding Italy's Alan Sorrenti with Non So Che Darei). At the close of voting, it had received 7 points, placing 18th in a field of 19 - ahead of perennial last-place recipient Finland.

Due to the poor finish, Morocco's then-king Hassan II is reported to have decreed that the country would not return in subsequent years. Additionally, given the presence of Israel in the Contest (Israel having opted out of the 1980 edition, which they were eligible to host, as it was scheduled on a public holiday), it is unlikely that any further Moroccan entries will be forthcoming. King Hassan, pictured late in life. ... Morocco has only participated in the Eurovision Song Contest once, in 1980. ...

The result did not affect Samira's career, as she went on to become a leading recording star of the Arab world.

Reference

• Diggiloo Thrush. 1980 Morocco. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
• Mangan, Des (2004). This Is Sweden Calling.