- Text size
| 
| 
| 
- Email this document
- Printable version
| Title | Chronology for Berbers in Morocco |
| Publisher | Minorities at Risk Project |
| Country | Morocco |
| Publication Date | 2004 |
| Cite as | Minorities at Risk Project, Chronology for Berbers in Morocco, 2004, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/469f38bf5.html [accessed 27 May 2012] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Chronology for Berbers in Morocco
| Date(s) | Item |
|---|---|
| King Hassan announced that Berber will be taught in primary schools. | |
| A U.S. Department of State human rights report noted that "there are some Berber spokesmen who believe that the Berber identity is not adequately maintained because Berber languages are not taught in schools and there are no Berber [language] publications." However this report also noted that "Berbers are well represented in the government and the officer corps of the military..." | |
| A new opposition party, the Mouvement National Populaire, was formed under the leadership of veteran Berber politician and former defense minister Mahjoubi Aherdane. This party has a strong Berber element. | |
| In direct elections for 222 out of 333 seats in the Moroccan Legislature the Mouvement Populaire gained 33 seats and the Mouvement National Populaire won 14 seats. Both Berber parties stood for election as part of the ruling Entente Nationale coalition. | |
| In indirect elections for the remaining 111 seats in the Moroccan legislature, the Mouvement Populaire gained 18 seats giving it a total of 51 (out of 333) and the Mouvement Nationale Populaire gained 10 seats giving it a total of 24. | |
| The King appointed a non-partisan government. | |
| The government commenced Berber-language television and radio news broadcasts. | |
| Following a protest where Berber activists demanded recognition of their language and Berber cultural revival, 28 activists were arrested and on May 27, three of them were convicted and sentenced to two to three years in jail. | |
| A meeting by a Berber cultural association in the southern city of Agadir was banned by orders of the region's governor. Another such conference in Nador was also banned (date unavailable). | |
| King Hassan granted amnesty to the 3 Berber activists convicted of disturbing the peace. (see May 1, 1994 for details) | |
| Berber associations called on Morocco to recognize their language and make its teaching obligatory in schools. In January, a Berber cultural week was banned in Rabat | |
| The Berber Cultural Society denounced the harassment they are subject to. (BBC) | |
| The pro-government blocks nearly tied in the legislative elections held for the two-chamber legislature. The opposition attributed their lack of a clear victory to government election fraud. (ABC CLIO) | |
| The ban on Berber cultural week was denounced by the Human Rights Association of Morocco. (AMDH) | |
| The King appointed an opposition-dominated cabinet. (ABC CLIO) | |
| The Communications Minister encouraged the use of the Berber language in advertising (BBC) | |
| The Moroccan Culture Department announced a plan to preserve Berber heritage with the creation of local museums and the promotion of Berber culture through books, plays, music, and paintings (BBC). |
Topics: Berber,
- Search
- Regions
- Countries