Latest news with #MohamedAmineBelghit
Arab News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Algeria jails historian who questioned Amazigh culture
He was arrested on May 3 for 'the crime of undermining national unity'Belghit's lawyer Toufik Hichour said on Facebook that a court sentenced him to five yearsALGIERS: An Algerian court on Thursday sentenced historian Mohamed Amine Belghit to five years in prison for offending national symbols, his lawyer said, after remarks questioning the existence of the native Amazigh sparked outrage in the North African country when he said in a recent interview that 'the Amazigh language is an ideological project of Franco-Zionist origin,' and that 'there's no such thing as Amazigh culture.'He was arrested on May 3 for 'the crime of undermining national unity' by targeting 'symbols of the nation and the republic' as well as 'disseminating hate speech,' the prosecution said at the Thursday, Belghit's lawyer Toufik Hichour said on Facebook that a court outside the capital Algiers sentenced him to five years behind prosecutor had requested seven years jailtime and a fine of 700,000 dinars ($5,400).Algeria in 2016 granted official status to Tamazight, the language of the Amazigh people, who are also known as Berber new year celebration, Yennayer, was added in 2017 to the list of national a university professor, is no stranger to remarks often cause uproar, with critics accusing him of historical revisionism and hostility toward the Amazigh people.
Al-Ahram Weekly
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Algeria jails historian who questioned Amazigh culture - Region
An Algerian court on Thursday sentenced historian Mohamed Amine Belghit to five years in prison for offending national symbols, his lawyer said, after remarks questioning the existence of the native Amazigh culture. Belghit sparked outrage in the North African country when he said in a recent interview that "the Amazigh language is an ideological project of Franco-Zionist origin", and that "there's no such thing as Amazigh culture". He was arrested on May 3 for "the crime of undermining national unity" by targeting "symbols of the nation and the republic" as well as "disseminating hate speech", the prosecution said at the time. On Thursday, Belghit's lawyer Toufik Hichour said on Facebook that a court outside the capital Algiers sentenced him to five years behind bars. The prosecutor had requested seven years jailtime and a fine of 700,000 dinars ($5,400). Algeria in 2016 granted official status to Tamazight, the language of the Amazigh people, who are also known as Berbers. The Berber new year celebration, Yennayer, was added in 2017 to the list of national holidays. Belghit, a university professor, is no stranger to controversies. His remarks often cause uproar, with critics accusing him of historical revisionism and hostility towards the Amazigh people. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Morocco World
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Algeria Seeks 7-Year Prison Term for Historian Over Anti-Amazigh Comments
Marrakech – Algerian prosecutors have demanded a seven-year prison sentence for historian Mohamed Amine Belghit over controversial comments about Amazigh identity. The case has reignited tensions between Algeria and the United Arab Emirates, with Algeria's state media launching harsh criticism against the Gulf country. According to Algerian media, the prosecutor at the Dar El Beida tribunal near Algiers also requested a fine of 700,000 dinars (approximately €4,600) for Belghit. The verdict will be announced on July 3, as confirmed by defense attorney Toufik Hichour on Facebook. Belghit was placed in detention on May 3 after an interview with UAE-based Sky News Arabia went viral on social media. During the interview, the university professor claimed 'the Amazigh language is an ideological project of Franco-Zionist creation' and declared 'there is no Amazigh culture.' These statements provoked widespread indignation in Algeria, where the Tamazight language was recognized as official in 2016, and 'Yennayer,' the Amazigh New Year, became a national holiday in 2017. The historian faces serious charges including 'crime against national unity,' 'attacking symbols of the nation and republic,' and 'spreading hate speech and discrimination.' His comments were deemed particularly inflammatory given Algeria's constitutional recognition of Amazigh identity alongside Islam and Arabism. Simmering tensions The controversy quickly escalated into a diplomatic incident between Algeria and the UAE. Algeria's state television broadcast a scathing critique of the Emirates on May 2, accusing them of spreading 'a new form of venom, indecency and insults against Algerians' and having 'crossed all red lines.' The five-minute tirade used particularly harsh language, repeatedly referring to the UAE as an 'artificial statelet' and its leaders as 'dwarves.' The broadcast warned that 'media incitement affecting Algerian identity will not pass without moral and popular accountability' and threatened to 'return the insult a hundredfold.' This is not the first diplomatic confrontation between the two countries. Tensions boiled over last year when Algeria accused Abu Dhabi of collaborating with Morocco and Israel to destabilize the Sahel region and undermine Algerian interests in Western Sahara. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune previously authorized Louisa Hanoune, leader of the Workers' Party, to publicly accuse the UAE of attempting to infiltrate Algeria's institutions and 'pushing for war in the region' to benefit Israel. Hanoune claimed the Emirates were 'collecting money to arm Morocco' and using investments in Algeria as cover for alleged conspiracies. She suggested nationalizing Emirati-owned companies in Algeria, including the National Company of Tobacco and Matches, to reduce the UAE's economic presence in the country. Although Amazigh activists denounced the comments as hateful, some have criticized the Algerian government's response as an attempt to deflect internal tensions by focusing on external enemies. One Kabyle activist noted on social media: 'It's not Sky News Arabia denying our history, it's the Algerian state giving voice to those who falsify our origins.' The case draws parallels to that of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who was sentenced to five years in prison in March for stating in a French media outlet that Algeria had inherited territories from Morocco during French colonization. Tags: Algeriaalgeria and uae
Ya Biladi
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Algerian historian Mohamed Amine Belghit faces seven year sentence
In Algeria, the trial of historian Mohamed Amine Belghit is nearing its conclusion. On Thursday, June 26, the prosecution requested a seven-year prison sentence and a fine of 700,000 dinars (approximately €4,616), according to an Algerian media outlet. Belghit, who has been in custody since May 3, faces charges of «undermining national unity», «inciting hatred», and «using information technology for propaganda that undermines human dignity». These charges are linked to an interview he gave to a media outlet in the United Arab Emirates, in which he claimed the Amazigh movement was a «creation of French and Zionist intelligence services». The public prosecutor deemed these remarks contrary to constitutional values concerning national unity, state sovereignty, and social cohesion, according to a statement issued on May 3. It is worth noting that Algerian authorities have previously accused Morocco, France, and Israel of «financially and militarily supporting» separatist claims in Kabylia.
Middle East Eye
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Algeria jails historian who called Amazigh identity a 'French-Zionist' construct
Algeria has imprisoned a prominent historian after he claimed that the Amazigh identity was a "French-Zionist" construct on Emirati TV. Mohamed Amine Belghit was remanded in custody after making the comments against the Algerian minority group last week, with the state prosecutor saying he had undermined the "unity" of the country. The Prosecutor's Office of the Dar El Beida court said in a statement on Saturday that Belghit had been arrested for: "The crime of undermining national unity by an act targeting national unity with the aim of undermining the symbols of the nation and the republic, the offense of undermining the integrity of national unity, and the offense of disseminating hate speech and discrimination." Belghit, a university professor who is known for making provocative public comments, had been speaking on Sky News Arabia when he declared that "the Amazigh language is an ideological project of French-Zionist creation". "There is no such thing as Amazigh culture. There is no such thing as Amazighness," he said. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters His comments, which spread quickly online, provoked outcry in Algeria, which recognised the Tamazight language as a national language in 2016. State television called the broadcast "a new form of venom, filth, indecency and insults against Algerians" while the High Commission for Amazighness said "isolated parties" were trying to destabilise Algeria. The national news outlet also said the UAE had "crossed all red lines" with the broadcast and denounced the country as an 'artificial mini-state". Algeria's Sahel neighbours withdraw ambassadors after shooting down of Malian drone Read More » Amazighs, who are also sometimes known as Berbers, are an ethnic group scattered across Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Libya whose roots in the region predate the Arab conquest of North Africa. They are believed to account for about 20 percent of Algeria's 44 million population. Amazigh culture and language have historically been suppressed by the Algerian government, but following pressure from protesters and campaigners, there has been increasing recognition of the minority's rights and identity in the country. "Yennayer," the Amazigh New Year, was added to the list of national holidays in 2017. The controversy has come against the backdrop of mounting tensions between Algeria and the UAE. The UAE and Algeria's other regional rival, Morocco, both agreed to recognise Israel in 2021, a move that was strongly criticised by the Algerian government. Authorities have also attacked the UAE's involvement in a range of regional conflicts, including the wars in Sudan and Libya, and have suspected the UAE of seeking to destabilise neighbouring Tunisia after the 2011 democratic revolution. 'Wherever there are conflicts, the state's money is present in Mali, Libya, Sudan,' President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said in March 2024.
