Ilias El-Malki is a well-known Moroccan YouTuber and Streamer, one day during his stream, he made a comment about the Amazigh (referred to as “Shlah”) that sparked controversy. He said that the “Shlah kaib9a ghe Shlah” and have small minds. As a result of these words, Ilias got into trouble and was even arrested. This raises the question: What exactly is the term “Shlah” or “Amazigh”?
The Amazigh people have a long history that spans thousands of years, especially in North Africa. They are the indigenous inhabitants of this region, which includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, Egypt, and even parts of Mali and Niger. Their presence dates back to prehistoric times, and the Phoenicians and Carthaginians, when they arrived in North Africa, traded with the Amazigh. After the fall of Carthage, North Africa became part of the Roman Empire, and the Amazigh played a significant role as warriors and leaders, such as Jugurtha and Takfarinas, who led revolts against the Romans.
During the Islamic conquest in the 7th century, Islam spread to North Africa, where the Amazigh people embraced Islam while preserving their language and culture. They also played a key role in establishing powerful states in North Africa, such as the Almoravid dynasty (1056-1147), which founded an empire that spanned from Andalusia to West Africa, and the Almohad dynasty (1121-1269), which ruled the Maghreb and Andalusia. Other notable Amazigh-led dynasties include the Hafsids in Tunisia, the Zayyanids in Algeria, and the Merinids in Morocco.
Even during European colonialism in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Amazigh resisted French and Spanish colonization. They were a driving force behind national liberation after colonialism, which led to the policy of Arabization.
The Amazigh people have their own language, which is written in Tifinagh script, as well as their own calendar. Their history is full of achievements and struggles.
Now, back to Elias Al-Maliki, who made the mistake of using the term “Shlah” in a negative way. This led to a significant public backlash, and he was arrested because of it. Elias is considered one of the biggest influencers in Morocco and has a large following. He was charged with public indecency, inciting hatred, and discrimination due to complaints from Amazigh associations and ordinary citizens about insults and defamation.
However, the Amazigh associations later withdrew all complaints, but the public prosecutor still charged Elias with promoting hatred, indecency, insults, defamation, and even drug use. As a result, he was sentenced to four months in prison for these offenses.
In my opinion, people deserve the right to freedom of expression and should be able to voice their opinions without infringing on others’ rights. The law should be lenient with freedom of expression. Elias made a mistake, but he didn’t deserve imprisonment. He was simply expressing his opinion, and it appears he was unaware of his country’s history and his own roots. He deserves a lighter sentence, such as financial penalties. Additionally, Moroccans should be educated about their own history.
