Hunger Strike By Teachers Of Berber Language In Algeria In Fourth Day

Teachers of the Tamazight (Berber) language in Algiers are in the fourth day of a hunger strike to demand tenure.

Linguist Abdennour Abdesselam has accused the Algerian regime of trying to speed up the disappearance of the Tamazight language, and has threatened to appeal to UNESCO.

The hunger strikers have the support of teachers' unions, the Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LADDH), and members of the political system and the civil society

Several strikers have been taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Source: La Depeche de Kabylie, Algeria, October 30 and 31, 2007

Issue of Popular Weekly Banned in Algeria – Because of Article on 2001 Berber Revolt, Special Dispatch Series - No. 1963 - June 17, 2008

Berber Leader Belkacem Lounes: ‘There Is No Worse Colonialism Than That of the Pan-Arabist Clan that Wants to Dominate Our People', Special Dispatch Series - No. 1569 - May 3, 2007

Debate About New Berber-Jewish Friendship Association in Morocco on Iranian Al-Alam TV, Special Dispatch Series - No. 1695 - August 24, 2007

Algerian Berber Dissidents Promote Programs for Secularism and Democracy in Algeria, Special Dispatch Series - No. 1308 - October 6, 2006

If you would like to donate by mail, please send check or money order to:
	MEMRI P.O. Box 27837 Washington DC 20038
Telephone: 202.955.9070 Email: donate@memri.org

Add The MEMRI Blog to your personalized Google homepage.

Would you like to get in touch with us? Send an email to Blog@memri.org

 The MEMRI Feed

Egyptian blogger Abdelkareem Nabil Suleiman was arrested for allegedly "defaming the President of Egypt" and "highlighting inappropriate aspects the harm the reputation of Egypt" on his blog.

A petition calling for his release has been posted online by the HAMSA organization ("Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance"), an American Muslim association for promoting civil rights in the Middle East.

No to Violence	Terrorism Has No Religion

Visit www.noterror.info for more information.

As a reader of MEMRI, you are familiar with our continuing efforts to expand our work to monitor more media outlets in more countries, research more subjects, and translate into more languages.

At this crucial time, as the war on terror continues, with the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, and with reformists in the region needing help to make their voices heard, we are introducing The MEMRI Blog.

The MEMRI Blog is a new service, provided by The Middle East Media Research Institute, which will operate in conjunction with MEMRI.org, MEMRITV.org, and MEMRIFilms.org.

While MEMRI regularly provides translations from editorials and sermons, as well as expert analysis, The MEMRI Blog will specifically highlight brief NEWS ITEMS from Arabic, Persian, and Turkish language media sources.

Summaries are posted on the front page, but be sure to read the FULL ENTRY.