The Berber Dahir: When France Divided Morocco

In 1930, French colonial authorities in Morocco issued the Berber Dahir, a decree that formally separated Berber customary law from Islamic Sharia. This seemingly administrative act sparked a firestorm of protest across the country, uniting Arab and Berber nationalists against a divide-and-rule policy. Lucas and Luna explore the background: French fascination with the 'noble savage' Berber, the 1914 dahir that started the legal separation, and the 1930 decree that tried to put Berbers under French criminal law. They discuss the famous protest latif prayer recited in mosques, the role of the newly founded Allal al-Fassi and the Moroccan Action Committee, and how this episode fueled the independence movement. The conversation touches on key figures like Sultan Mohammed V, who resisted French pressure, and the broader context of French colonial policy across North Africa. Ultimately, the Berber Dahir backfired, cementing a Moroccan national identity that transcended ethnic divisions.

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