Spain Faces Deadline to Address Arabic and Darija Language Status in Ceuta and Melilla

August 1, 2023 is the deadline given to Spain to present a report on compliance with the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, including a "clarification" on the situation of darija and Arabic in the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. The Committee of Ministers was behind this request. The statutory decision-making body of the Council of Europe criticizes the delays of the two enclaves in terms of respect and protection of historical and minority languages.

This is not the first time the Council of Ministers has made this request. In 2008, the decision-making body of the Council of Europe had asked Spain to rule and adopt measures to protect Amazigh, Arabic and darija in the two enclaves. Radio silence. A silence that lasted 10 years.

Madrid’s position has not, however, undermined the determination of the Council of Ministers. The body returned to the issue in 2019. It explained that "the question of whether Arabic/darija should be protected under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is still open, as it is a language traditionally spoken in North Africa and it seems quite clear that it is traditionally present" in Ceuta and Melilla. Data from the Ceuta Studies Institute (IEC) published in 2014 indicate that 62.9% of the inhabitants of Ceuta are of "Arab-Muslim" origin and speak "Ceuta Arabic or darija".