Controversy ignites over historian’s remarks on amazigh identity in algeria

An audience held on May 15, 2025, before the Chamber of Accusation in Algiers regarding the case of Algerian historian Mohamed El Amine Belghit concluded with significant implications. The awaited verdict on May 21 will determine whether Belghit remains in provisional detention or is released pending trial.

This hearing focused on the appeal made by the defense against the decision of the investigating judge to keep the historian in custody. Belghit’s lawyers passionately argued for his release, emphasizing his status as a recognized academic figure who possesses all necessary legal guarantees.

A crucial question looms: the Chamber of Accusation may reconsider the charges against Belghit. The defense contends that the allegations pertain more to a correctional court than to criminal proceedings, potentially lightening the severity of the accusations.

The controversy traces back to early May, following a televised interview broadcast by Sky News Arabia. In this interview, Belghit controversially described amazigh identity as a "franco-zionist ideological project." He further claimed that the populations of North Africa descended from "Arab Phoenicians" and that the amazigh identity was a "political ruse" aimed at undermining the unity of the Maghreb.

In response to widespread public outrage and numerous political reactions, the Public Prosecutor's Office in Dar El Beïda initiated a preliminary investigation, resulting in the historian's provisional detention. According to an official statement, his remarks constituted an "attack on the symbols of the nation and its unity." He faces charges for "acts aimed at national unity," "attacks on the integrity of national territory," and "incitement to hatred and discrimination via information technologies."

Belghit has denied these accusations, asserting that he was the victim of a "manipulated montage" by the broadcasting channel. He noted that he did not possess the original recording to substantiate his claims and explained that the journalist had posed a "trap question," to which he responded based on ancient historical studies.

Additionally, regarding his statement that some Algerians residing in France are "harkis," Belghit clarified that he was referring only to "certain individuals acting against the interests of the nation," thereby denying any generalization to the entire Algerian diaspora.

This affair has also strained diplomatic relations between Algeria and the United Arab Emirates. Algerian public television harshly criticized Abu Dhabi, accusing Sky News Arabia of disseminating views that challenge the historical foundations of the Algerian people. In an official statement, public television labeled Belghit a "merchant of ideologies," denouncing it as an "act of aggression against the values, sovereignty, and common destiny of Algeria."

This controversy revives a long-standing and heated debate regarding Algerian national identity, divided between those who assert an Arab affiliation and those who emphasize amazigh roots. Among the opposing theses is the notion of "Phoenician origins," often invoked to affirm the Arab character of the country, in contrast to those who view this as an attempt to erase authentic amazigh identity.

As the decision from the Chamber of Accusation approaches on May 21, the case of Mohamed El Amine Belghit exemplifies the ongoing tensions between freedom of expression, identity questions, and political stakes in a nation striving for a unified national identity.