Morocco Launches Arabic Language Campaign to Aid Migrant Integration

"This campaign comes after the realization, shared by ’Papiers Pour Tous’, that the vast majority of non-Arabic speaking foreigners (...) do not speak or speak little Darija, thus reinforcing the idea of foreigners in transit and not seeking to integrate into the host country, Morocco," said "Papiers Pour Tous". Thus, the organization of this campaign will encourage and push non-Arabic speaking foreigners, especially migrants, refugees and asylum seekers living in Morocco, to learn the Darija dialect.

In order to promote the learning of Darija, "Papiers Pour Tous" is organizing, on the same Friday, December 18, the day of the campaign starting at 8 pm, a webinar that will be dedicated to the study of the role of Darija in the inclusion of foreigners in Morocco. Among the participants are sociologist Soumaya Naamane Guessous, linguist Laila Imerhrane, psychoanalyst Hakima Lebbar and the President of the Council of Sub-Saharan Migrants in Morocco, Serge Aimé Guémou.

The collective also recalled that since the increase in migration to Morocco, the dynamic of defending migrants, refugees and asylum seekers has turned towards the defense of rights, forgetting that foreigners also have duties towards their host country, mainly the learning of the national language, very important for their integration into Moroccan society.

Thus, "the learning of Darija will significantly contribute to improving communication between non-Arabic speaking foreigners and Moroccan citizens in daily life, in the workplace... And to reducing xenophobia, distrust between communities and racial discrimination," stressed "Papiers Pour Tous".