HIBAPRESS – Mohammed Zerriouh
The "Akraou for Amazigh" organization has expressed its strong condemnation of what it described as an "exclusionary and discriminatory intervention" delivered by parliamentary member Omar Mahmoud Benjelloun, on behalf of his parliamentary group, during the discussion of the government program in the House of Representatives.
The organization stated in a press release that the attempt to reduce the official language of Moroccans to a single language, and to criticize the phonetic specificities of the Moroccan Darija, represents an evasion of constitutional provisions and high royal speeches.
The MP's intervention sparked widespread controversy due to his invocation of financial allocations dedicated to activating the official status of Amazigh, considering it a non-priority matter compared to "our official language," referring to Arabic.
The organization viewed this proposal as a retreat from the principle of equality and fairness enshrined by the Kingdom's constitution, and an attempt to impose a monolingual linguistic hegemony that contradicts the cultural and linguistic diversity that characterizes the Moroccan identity.
In a strong reaction, "Akraou for Amazigh" announced a set of demands, accusing the government and parliament of procrastination in activating the official status of Amazigh.
The organization called for an increase in the financial allocations allocated to this file, strengthened by governance and transparency mechanisms to ensure the achievement of justice and fairness for all components of the Moroccan people.
It also called for the enactment of a law criminalizing anti-Amazigh sentiment and racial discrimination in all its forms and manifestations.
In a escalating step, the organization demanded that MP Omar Mahmoud Benjelloun issue a public and explicit apology, with a commitment not to repeat the exclusionary discourse.
The organization held his party and his parliamentary group politically responsible for this intervention, and demanded that they take clear and responsible positions condemning its exclusionary content, declare their support for Amazigh rights and the activation of its official status, and take measures to prevent the recurrence of such discourse in the future.
The organization concluded its statement by affirming its commitment to continue advocating for the linguistic and cultural rights of Moroccans, and holding the concerned parties accountable for any negligence or violation.
It stressed that respecting Amazigh and ensuring fairness for it is a firm national and constitutional commitment, not subject to negotiation or retreat, emphasizing the importance of strengthening national unity within the framework of respecting the Kingdom's cultural and linguistic diversity.
