Morocco: The exclusion of the Amazigh language continues
in defiance of national and international law
During the recent visit of the French Head of State to Morocco, the Moroccan and French Ministers of National Education signed an agreement on "strengthening the teaching of the Arabic language" to Moroccan nationals in France.
Tamazight, the official language of Morocco since 2011 and benefiting from Law No. 26-16 of 27/09/2019 which provides for the practical arrangements for its integration and generalization in all areas, is excluded from this agreement.
Thus, under the authority of the two Heads of State, the French President and the King of Morocco, the Constitution of Morocco and the law are violated and an additional flagrant act of racial discrimination against the Amazigh is publicly practiced by the Moroccan government.
This new anti-Amazigh act and contempt for the law is of great gravity. This is an offense to the dignity of the Amazighs. Consequently, the CMA calls on the Amazighs of Morocco to mobilize massively to protect and defend their language, their history, their culture, their lands and everything that constitutes their identity as a distinct indigenous people.
The Amazigh World Congres (CMA) calls on associations and all Amazigh actors to organize peaceful public demonstrations and to adhere to its call launched on 25/09/2024 to take legal action together and with force against the racism and contempt of which they are victims.
The CMA will also take action with the French government so that this cynical, unfair and illegal agreement never sees the light of day. Furthermore, we call on the Amazigh community of France to boycott all Arabic language teaching provided under the aegis of Moroccan consulates.
At the same time, the CMA will continue to relentlessly denounce racism and anti-Amazigh discrimination in Morocco in all international arenas. We urge Morocco to rise to the level of international standards in terms of human and peoples' rights, it is an obligation and the condition to deserve the presidency of the United Nations Human Rights Council that Morocco currently exercises.
Paris, 23/10/2974 – 4/11/2024
The Board of the CMA.