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This is a letter written by a concerned American that is presently living and doing business in Morocco. I am truly amazed by what I observed this past weekend (Saturday 3 February 2007). The following is a synopsis of the event that took place.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to network with some of the leadership of the Amazigh movement as they meet for a much publicized peaceful meeting in Marrakech. When I arrived to the designated location in Marrakech I was stunned and angered by what I discovered. The location where the meeting was scheduled was surrounded with police, they had blocked the doors of the meeting and had refused anyone entrance. This building was a public facility that had been rented and paid for this occasion. However the police refused anyone to enter.

So the meeting was then held in the parking lot just outside the building, in the open air. To everyone’s surprise as the meeting began the police once again interfered by setting up loud speakers and began to play at full volume someone reciting the Quran. What I saw was the government exhibiting total control of the basic human rights of it’s people. This was certainly a reminder of the mindset of the country that I adopted as my own some 7 years ago. As an American these basic rights are guaranteed in our constitution, the right to assemble, the right to free speech. This kind of actions against its people cause’s me to wander, what is the Moroccan government afraid of? Is this lack of freedom in the 21st century to be tolerated? Is it possible for the Amazigh people to experience true freedom? I believe the world should know how oppressed these people are. The original indigenous people of Morocco have less freedom to choose today then in any other period in history. A government that oppress cannot succeed. I believe governments are agents of God, designed to bring order and prosperity to its people. God never intended for a government to oppress its people. The government that oppress will ultimately be judged by God.

www.amazighworld.org

Note in the film how the Moroccan authorities used the speakers of the moske diffusing very lound coran songs only for disturbing the meeting. The participant hadde to use megaphones to speak to eachother...