In the note of its proposal, the Istiqlalian team indicated that this bill is part of the proper application of the provisions of the 2011 Constitution, including article 5 which introduces: “Amazigh as an official language of the State, as the common heritage of all Moroccans, without exception”.
On the one hand, this new bill, according to the same source, aims to create harmony between national legislation and the provisions of the Constitution. On the other hand, it will give the Amazigh language its true constitutional meaning, by adding it alongside the Arabic language in the civil status. The new draft law proposes an amendment to the first paragraph of article 23 of the law on civil status. “Civil status written in Arabic and Amazigh. Proper names, family names, place of birth and parents’ names written in Latin letters next to Arabic letters…”.
With regard to the modification of article n° 36 of the same law, the proposed law stipulates: “The examination of requests aimed at revising the data of civil status taxes, with the exception of requests for replacement of the family name and correction of names and surnames in Latin or Amazigh letters, or by writing them with these letters, in addition to Arabic”
Amazigh: an important project for Morocco
Years following its adoption as the official language of the Kingdom, the Amazigh language continues to be one of the projects deemed important for the country and for the current government. As a result, the latter undertakes, on the one hand, to set up a special fund for the current year and which will draw its resources from the State budget with the aim of reaching 1 billion dirhams of here 2025.
On the other hand, it undertakes to set up advisory committees in order to strengthen fund governance. The objective is to implement the official character of the Amazigh language launched since 2011 through article 5 of the Constitution. Thus, the fund will make it possible to integrate Amazigh in the fields of education, legislation, information and communication without forgetting cultural and artistic creation by promoting its use in the administration. It will also allow the strengthening of linguistic and cultural justice which will accompany the institutionalization of Amazigh. But, specialists believe that to carry out this major project, it will be necessary to recruit and train a sufficient number of young graduates of Amazigh studies.
At the level of preschool, school and secondary education, for the generalization of the teaching of Amazigh, it will be necessary to train and recruit enough teachers specialized in the teaching of Amazigh. In higher education, it is necessary to create courses in Amazigh, especially professional and research courses.
The Parliament also speaks Amazigh
The House of Representatives created a precedent in parliamentary action by adopting, during the session of oral questions, simultaneous translation from Arabic to Amazigh. This service allows Amazighophones to follow the live broadcast of the sessions in the three dialects: Tachelhit, Tarifit and Tamazight, thus allowing them to be informed, like other citizens, of the various issues under discussion within the legislative institution, whether national, regional or local.
This commendable initiative, which also relates to the monthly plenary session devoted to oral questions addressed to the head of government, thus responds to the request expressed by various parliamentary groups.
However, the integration of the Amazigh language into the structures of the House of Councillors, the work of its sessions, its communiqués and its electronic portal has given a new air to the Amazigh language and has brought closer, according to the President of the House of Councillors, Naama Mayara, the speech of the parliament of all citizens.
