Amazigh Activists Gather to Honor the 46th Anniversary of Amazigh Spring
At the historic "Bab al-Had" gate in the capital city of Rabat, a group of Amazigh activists gathered to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the Amazigh Spring, known as "Tafsut Imazighn." This significant movement began in the Kabylie region of Algeria, sparked by the prohibition of novelist Mouloud Mammeri from delivering a lecture at the "Tizi Ouzou" University. The activists raised the banner proclaiming, "The struggle for unity is the foundation of building an Amazigh state," while advocating for reconciliation with Amazigh culture and the restoration of Morocco's identity.
Mohamed Souhso, a member of the national committee for "Tafsut Imazighn" (Mohamed Bouddhan session in Rabat), emphasized that this anniversary is an annual event deeply rooted in the Amazigh movement, not only in Morocco but throughout North Africa and the diaspora. He highlighted that it serves as a platform to renew the legitimate demands of the movement, which is supported by thousands of associations and human rights organizations defending Amazigh rights.
In an interview with Hespress, Souhso stressed the importance of implementing laws related to Amazigh rights and the release of political prisoners. He pointed out that the theme of this year’s event revolves around the demand for an "Amazigh state," urging liberation from dependency on the East and rejecting attempts to distort Morocco's authentic identity and culture by associating it with other geographical regions.
The Amazigh activist reiterated that the Amazigh identity is the true essence of the Moroccan people, necessitating a reconciliation of the state with its own identity and the acknowledgment of all the demands of the activist movement. In response to concerns about divisions within the Amazigh community, especially with simultaneous protests occurring in Marrakesh and Agadir, he asserted that the situation reflects a multiplicity of initiatives rather than a division. He assured that the unity of the slogans raised in all these cities guarantees a shared objective, emphasizing that the Amazigh movement rejects any totalitarian logic and champions the principle of diversity in its activism.
Human Rights and Identity at the Forefront of the Protests
On her part, Zoubida Fadail, president of the Anaruz Federation of Amazigh Associations in Central Morocco and a member of the World Amazigh Congress, noted that the protest in Rabat, commemorating "Tafsut Imazighn," upholds a central slogan: "The struggle for unity is the basis for building an Amazigh state." Fadail pointed out a series of human rights demands, primarily condemning the marginalization faced by residents of mountainous areas and women in particular. The call for the release of political prisoners and detainees of conscience in Morocco was also emphasized.
Furthermore, Fadail urged the Moroccan state to reconsider its vision and fulfill its promises, particularly regarding the official recognition of the Amazigh language, while retracting a number of unjust laws, especially those related to land and grazing rights. She highlighted that Amazigh communities in the southern regions suffer from injustices caused by "herding mafias" that harm the population and destroy the ecological system, particularly the rare argan tree, thereby demanding immediate state intervention to protect the community and fulfill its legal obligations.
Fadail criticized the importation of ideologies and issues foreign to North Africa and the attempt to impose them in reality, while affirming that the Amazigh identity is inclusive of all Moroccans, whether they speak Amazigh or not, as the land of Morocco is inherently Amazigh. Concurrently, Marrakesh witnessed a morning march starting from the Koutoubia Square, under the banner of "Tafsut N Imazighin, loyalty to the martyrs and detainees, and a continuous struggle for genuine recognition of Amazigh identity in Morocco," where participants raised slogans and signs including: "No democracy without Amazigh," "No spatial justice with exclusionary laws," and "Together for a democratic and federal Moroccan state," while rejecting the ongoing perceived "theft of Amazigh lands and resources" as well as "overgrazing." Agadir, the capital of the Souss-Massa region, also saw a protest followed by a march organized by the national committee for "Tafsut Imazighn" – Ali Sadki Azayko session, advocating for the recognition of the Amazigh identity in the Moroccan state. Activists called for the Amazigh language to be a reference point for all economic, social, and cultural policies, while demanding an end to "overgrazing" in tribal lands and rejecting what they see as the "political exploitation of Amazigh culture by Arab-leftist and Islamist parties." They called for the criminalization of all forms of Amazigh discrimination and addressing the issue of reception staff within administrations, as well as graduates of Amazigh studies at universities.
As reported by hespress.com.
