Language of Freedom: Libya’s Amazigh

In the context of the Arab Spring, issues of minority rights in the Middle East have become increasingly relevant. The challenge of creating a pluralistic democracy that recognizes and respects the rights of all religious, ethnic, and cultural groups is substantial in countries with a long history of having systematically abused those rights. Recently, the cultural and linguistic rights of the indigenous Amazigh or Berber minority, a group that constitutes a substantial population within many North African countries, including Libya, Morocco, and Algeria, have gained increasing international attention.

In Libya, under Gadhafi, Libyan Amazigh were marginalized politically, economically, and culturally—banned from speaking their language and displaying their traditions. Now, in the aftermath of Gadhafi’s fall, the righting of these historic wrongs must be taken into consideration in the crafting of a new order. Members of Libya’s Berber community have recently begun to organize in demanding recognition of their linguistic and cultural rights, tens of thousands recently rallying in Martyrs’ Square. While the Amazigh were among the first to rebel against Gadhafi, there are now concerns among them as to whether a new Libyan government will adequately honor their rights.
While the revolution has unified Arabs and Berbers, the current power vacuum has also introduced the potential for future unrest, as recent conflicts suggest. This issue is manifest in the process of creating a new constitution. A statement released by the National Transitional council in August affirms that the new Libyan state will ensure the “linguistic and cultural rights” of all Libyans without providing any details, and Berbers may not be fully represented in the interim government. There are also tensions over whether Amazigh will be adopted as an official language alongside Arabic, as it has been in Algeria and recently in Morocco. Although Libya faces many challenges in rebuilding itself socially and politically, ensuring the rights of minorities is critical to creating a sustainable and equitable future.
 
Photo Credit: First Libyan National Amazigh Conference