Ceuta Activists Push for Official Recognition of Local Arabic Dialect

"Ceuti Arabic, the mother tongue of thousands of Ceuta residents, must be protected by public administrations, given its social importance and in accordance with the recommendations and agreements of all scientific and academic bodies dealing with these sociolinguistic issues," the manifesto stated, inviting all entities, organizations and public institutions "to urgently take all necessary measures to make the use of ’Ceuti Arabic’ official in the city."

The importance of the mother tongue in the life of a person or a nation is no longer to be demonstrated. "The mother tongue is part of a person’s identity. It is the first language a human being learns in childhood. It is the language that allows for more spontaneity and fluency in communication. It is a cultural asset that combines identity, social integration and communication. Hence the importance of protecting and promoting it," the manifesto recalls.