Moroccan Opposition Party Calls for Arabic Translation of Government Documents

The party has addressed written questions to the government regarding "the improvement and promotion of the Arabic language in the Moroccan media, and the reduction of the use of the Arabic language in the public institutions of the kingdom." It also requested the convening of the Minister of National Education, Chakib Benmoussa, and the Minister of Culture and Youth, Mehdi Bensaid, before the Education, Culture and Communication Commission in the House of Representatives, to shed light on the situation of the Arabic language in educational, cultural and public information programs.

To read: Morocco’s Parliament to Implement Amazigh Language Use, Boosting Linguistic Diversity

Political parties, civil society organizations, as well as several lawyers and attorneys had already criticized the adoption of the French language in education, contained in the law reforming education in Morocco, which came into force in August 2019. Mohamed Barkou, a former lawyer at the Rabat Bar, had called for the "rejection" of any document written in French.

To read: Rabat’s Descartes High School Introduces Amazigh Language and Culture Program

According to Chapter V of the Moroccan Constitution, "Arabic shall continue to be the official language of the State, which shall endeavor to protect, improve and develop its use. Tamazight is also an official language of the State, as it is a common heritage of all Moroccans without exception." The international community celebrates December 18 of each year as World Arabic Language Day. It is on this date that the UN issued Resolution No. 3190 approving the inclusion of Arabic among the official and working languages of the United Nations.