Algeria. Information on treatment of Berber minority group. [DZA2449]

Please find attached a previous response to a request similar to yours. However, we add the following information.
The Berbers, which form between 20% and 28% of the Algerian population [ Yvan Cliche, "La question berbère en Algérie", Le Devoir. 24 septembre 1985.], are concentrated around two major groups located in the massif of the Aurès and in Kabylie, in East Algeria [ La grande encyclopédie du monde. Algérie. Editions Atlas, 1986. P. 4260.]. Other Berbers are found in the coastal mountains between Cherchell and Ténès, in the Atlas of El-Boulaïda, in the oriental Ouarsenis and near the Moroccan border [ Ibid.]. 30% of the Berbers, such as the Mozabites of the Mzab region and the Touaregs in the Hoggar massif, have kept their language and their traditions, whereas 70% speak Arabic, became muslim and adopted arab customs [ Ibid.].
The Berbers of Algeria are represented by "Le Mouvement culturel berbère" of which leaders have links with Algerian workers in France and Belgium [ Amnesty International, Algeria: Playing with splinters. April 1986.]. The Berber problem mainly emerged in 1980 with the banning of a lecture given by a Kabyle intellectual on Kabyle poetry [ Yvan Cliche, "La Question berbère en Algérie".]. Recognition of the cultural diversity and of the national popular languages, Berber and Arabic, are the Berbers' claims [ Ibid.]. Berbers also ask for political pluralism, Algeria having a one-party system [ "Discos and discourse for the `bearded and the turbaned'", Arabia. October 1985.]. In April 1980, the students at the University of Tizi-Ouzou in Kabyle occupied the university and called for a general strike which was heavily followed [ Yvan Cliche, "La question berbère en Algérie".]. During the night of April 19th to 20th, a strong repression occurred followed by three days of violent riots [ Ibid.]. Again in 1988, violent riots in the Kabyle region occurred and about 60 persons were killed ["Troops fire on Algerian protesters", The Toronto Star. Monday, October 10, 1988.]; Official Algerian texts make no reference to the Berber community nor does the word "berber" appear in official speeches [ Yvan Cliche, "La question berbère en Algérie".]. A policy of arabization was implemented a few years ago [ Ibid.].
In March 1984, members of the Algerian human rights league, newly created by Berbers, were imprisoned for "challenging the official dictatorship" [ "Discos and discourse for the `bearded and the turbaned'", Arabia. October 1985.].
Attachment

La grande encyclopédie du monde. Algérie. Editions Atlas, 1986. P. 4260.

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