The Amazigh Cultural Movement of Morocco Under Attack
11 October 2007Violence recently erupted between so-called Arabist and Amazigh students at several universities in Morocco namely Taza, Meknes, Agadir, Marakesh and Tizi-n-Imnayen. This has led to many serious injuries and one death among the students. The Moroccan police intervened and arrested Amazigh students mainly. There are now about 50 of them in jail under various charges, most of them labeled “armed attack against another student” and “robbery”.
The violence coincided in many universities such as Taza (Arif) with the commemoration of Tafsut Imazighen (the Amazigh spring1). According to eyewitnesses in Taza, large numbers of individuals outside of the university entered the campus, took part in removing announcements by the Amazigh student organization and attacked violently the Amazigh students. According to the same eyewitnesses, the security forces provided cover for the fleeing attackers instead of arresting them. (continue reading here)