Riffians in Netherlands Rally for Justice: Commemorating Brutal 1984 Black January Massacres by Moroccan Occupation Regime
BY: Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS- Members of the National Rif Party, along with Riffians and several activists in the Netherlands, held a protest to commemorate the Black January Massacres of 1984 committed by the Moroccan occupation regime in the Rif. According to Dzair Tube’s journalist Djamil Djerboua, the demonstrators carried candles, flags of the Republic of Rif, as well as images depicting the heinous massacres and square pictures representing the ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Hassan’s forces against a people aspiring to their freedom.
The protest aimed to remind Riffians and the world of the atrocities committed by the Moroccan regime against students in the Rif regions, the repugnant racism directed at them, and the systematic oppression against the Amazigh people, the indigenous inhabitants of the occupied Rif by the ruthless Zionist Makhzen regime.
On the other hand, Riffians also recalled the gruesome massacres that occurred between 1958 and 1949, during which more than 8,000 Amazigh people were martyred. The history of Morocco is filled with massacres, crimes, racism, torture, starvation, and marginalization. The National Rif Party’s stand in Amsterdam aimed to expose the Makhzen regime and its crimes throughout history, as the colonial system has oppressed Rifians and freedom fighters with relentless struggle until achieving independence.
In this vein, activist Farouk Al-Rifi, a member of the Rif National Party, stated that “they are present to commemorate the events of 1984,” referring to “the fortieth anniversary of the Moroccan regime’s attack, led by the criminal Hassan II”. He mentioned “the use of tanks, aircraft, and machine guns that resulted in the cold-blooded killing of thousands, leaving behind orphans and widows”. According to Al-Rifi, this is evidence of the historical animosity of the Moroccan regime towards the people of the Rif. Despite this, they are determined to confront this brutality.
In light of Morocco’s election to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Al-Rifi argued that “it conflicts with its dictatorial history filled with human rights violations”. Rif activist Nahed Ihbath, a member of the Rif National Party responsible for women’s affairs, emphasized their presence to commemorate the painful anniversary. She conveyed a message to the corrupt Alaouite regime, stating that “they will not forget its heinous crimes and will not forgive.” Another activist, Yuba al- Ghadioui, also a party member, mentioned the file submitted to the Human Rights Council in Geneva and called for the Rif people to submit a similar file to the International Court of Justice, condemning the crimes committed by the Moroccan regime against the unarmed Rif population.
As the National Rif Party and activists in the Netherlands gathered to commemorate the painful anniversary of the Black January Massacres, they sent a strong message to the Alaouite regime, vowing not to forget its heinous crimes and demanding accountability for the atrocities committed against the Rifian population. The event also recognized the role of media outlets, such as Dzair Tube channel, in providing continuous coverage and commitment to exposing the truth behind the historical injustices faced by the Rif people.
Dzair Tube Media Group
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A testament to its commitment to excellence, Dzair Tube received the prestigious President of the Republic’s Award for Professional Journalist in the Electronic Press category on October 22, 2022. This recognition underscores the platform’s unwavering dedication to upholding the highest standards of journalism.
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Recently honored with the Media Leadership Award from the Minister of Communication, Mohamed Laâgab, Dzair Tube continues to shape the landscape of Algerian digital news, maintaining a position of influence and impact in the media industry.
