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Harassment of Ethnic Berbers on the Rise in North Africa

14 February, 2009 01:48:00 The North Africa Journal
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image Police forces following anti-Mozabite clashes in Ghardaia, Algeria (left) and anti-Berber demonstrations in Yefren, Libya (R)

North Africa is home of the Amazigh people, also known as Berbers. Although widespread in the Maghreb region, the Berbers continue to suffer from a minority status everywhere in the region, with government often ignoring their basic ethnic rights demands at best, or even actively contributing to blocking any progress toward cultural and economic improvement.

Despite some tiny steps made here and there, from a questionable constitutional recognition to the launch of an embryonic linguistic program, the Berbers continue to suffer from harassment. If not always sanctioned by central governments, such harassments occur under the watchful but passive eye of the authorities. Two events in particular that have occurred recently point to the fragile state of Berber rights. The first occurred in the Algerian province of Ghardaia, the second in the Libyan town of Yefren. Continue reading here.

 

In the web:

. Warming up to more harassment in Yefren, Libya. Anti Berber activists on the offensive (video from youtube.com)

. Attack against the home of a local Amazigh activist (video from youtube.com)

. Coverage of the Amazigh problem by MBC TV in Arabic (video from youtube.com)

. Coverage of the Amazigh problem by Al-Arabiya TV in Arabic (video from youtube.com)

Comments (2 posted):

Lias Makcom on 29 March, 2009 07:21:55
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You are talking BS. Berbers in Algeria have everything, from their TV radio, and even their films. They have their University and their Soccer team is the best int the country and Africa for almost three decades. What are talking about?
Mark Belliveau on 05 February, 2011 09:07:58
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Dear Sir,

I can assure you that in Algeria, There are no Berbers at all, there are no Arabs at all.There are only Algerians.
Algeria is Algerian before and after all.

Cheers,

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