Morocco Adds Language Requirement to Citizenship Law, Including Amazigh

The bill was presented by the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, according to whom this law is in line with the Moroccan constitution, which enshrines the official status of Amazigh. The minister also noted that the knowledge of the Amazigh language, as well as Arabic, should not be required only for obtaining nationality.

The naturalization conditions as described by the Dahir now include an adequate knowledge of the Arabic and Amazigh languages, or one of them. This new criterion is considered, the minister affirmed, as a step forward for the recognition and promotion of the Amazigh language and culture in Morocco.