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Morocco’s New ID Cards Spark Controversy: Amazigh Language Omitted Despite Official Status
Sunday 6 October 2019, by
The World Amazigh Assembly in Morocco expressed, in a letter addressed to Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director General of National Security (DGSN), its surprise at "the total absence of the Amazigh language and its official character, Tifinagh", in the new model of the National Identity Card (CIN), which his institution is preparing to launch as early as 2020.
"The State must write all its official documents, including the national identity card, the passport and other documents in the Amazigh language with its Tifinagh alphabet in addition to the Arabic language."
These are the terms in which the Amazigh organization addressed the head of the General Directorate of National Security in its correspondence.
It reminded Hammouchi that the Moroccan Constitution has approved, in its 5th article, the official status of the Amazigh language in addition to the Arabic language.
Similarly, the World Amazigh Assembly chaired by Amina Ibnou Cheikh also reminded the DGSN of the adoption of Tifinagh by King Mohammed VI on February 10, 2003, as the official script for written expression in the Amazigh language.
Subsequently, the Amazigh organization pleaded for the integration of the Amazigh language with its Tifinagh character in the new generation of CIN that the DGSN plans to launch in early 2020.
Its wish, it will add, is also to see "the Amazigh language, in addition to the Arabic language, on all vehicles, cars, headquarters, administration facades and uniforms of the Peace Guardians".