Algerian historian faces 7 year sentence over controversial remarks

The Dar El Beida court in Algiers has requested a 7 year prison sentence for Algerian historian Mohamed El Amine Belghith over statements he made on Emirati TV as reported by Watan News on June 27th.

The 68-year-old historian is accused of questioning the legitimacy of the Amazigh identity, and being prosecuted on charges of “spreading hate speech and discrimination through information technology”, “promoting harmful information likely to disrupt public” order, and “undermining national unity and territorial integrity”.

The trial followed an earlier decision by Algerian authorities to drop felony charges against Belghith, interpreted by many as an attempt to ease public pressure after widespread outrage over his pretrial detention.

The interview, recorded on March 5th at Sky News Arabia’s studio in Algiers, was to appear on a segment titled “Algerian-French Relations”, according to Belghith.

“There is no such thing as Amazigh culture. It’s a French-Zionist ideological project. The Berbers are ancient Arabs, according to the consensus of great historians”, he said in the interview.

He added: “The Amazigh issue, as agreed upon by the rational voices of Libya, Algeria, and Morocco, is a political project meant to undermine Maghreb unity and serve French neocolonial aims.” His comments sparked intense backlash from cultural, political, and academic circles in Algeria.

Amazighs, who are also sometimes known as Berbers, are an ethnic group dispersed across Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Libya whose roots in the region predate the Arab conquest of North Africa.

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.  

According to leaked details from the investigation, Belghith told authorities he was misrepresented due to “editorial manipulation” by Sky News Arabia, the Emirati channel that aired the interview.

Belghith said several remarks were omitted from his segment, especially those concerning the Amazigh identity, and that the interviewer had asked him a “loaded question.” His responses, he said, were based on historic academic research.

Following the interview, Belghith faced accusations of inciting ethnic division on a foreign media platform perceived as hostile to Algerian sovereignty. Critics argued this exceeded freedom of speech and constituted a threat to national unity.

The controversy has strained diplomatic relations with the UAE, with Algerian state television launching harsh criticism against Abu Dhabi, accusing its affiliated media of attempting to undermine Algeria’s national foundations and historical identity.

The case continues to stir public debate in Algeria, where the recent detainment and potential 10-year-sentence of French-Algerian writer, Boualem Sansal has sparked similar outcry internationally and cooled relations between France and Algeria.

Watan News, Maghrebi.org