Controversy Erupts Over Moroccan Dialect Wikipedia Contest

Wikimedia, through a competition for the use of the Moroccan dialect in Wikipedia entries, has called on Internet users to submit a wide range of content related to Morocco on the Wikipedia platform and has also promised prizes to the winners. This competition did not fail to provoke reactions on social networks.

"This competition aims to fight against standard Arabic... I don’t think the next generation will be able to understand simple Arabic," criticizes an Internet user. "Doesn’t standard Arabic belong to our culture? Doesn’t standard Arabic belong to our identity?" questions another. "What is the advantage of not using standard Arabic?" adds a social media user.

Faced with the controversy, Najiyyah Al-Mukhtari, head of the Reading Network in Morocco, wanted to provide clarification. The objective of this competition "is to encourage and develop writings in standard Arabic, Moroccan dialect and Amazigh language," she said.