Persian Realm

Morocco stone carvings destroyed by Salafists

Amazigh activists in the High Atlas mountains say they have seen a rise in Salafist activities.

Muslim hardliners known as Salafists have been blamed for destroying ancient stone carvings in Morocco's High Atlas mountains.

Morocco 'liquid gold' liberates Berbers

Morocco 'liquid gold' liberates Berbers (cnn, video)

Ethnic Berbers -- the indigenous inhabitants of North Africa whose culture predominated in the region prior to the 7th century Arab invasion -- were among Morocco's earliest inhabitants, and government figures show that at least one third of the country's population of 32 million speak a Berber dialect. However, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency, Morocco's Berbers also face habitual cultural discrimination. It was only last year that the state finally recognized Tamazight, the Berber language, as an official language alongside Arabic.

Charrouf says that the new-found international popularity of argan oil -- which she describes as "liquid gold" -- has not only provided about 5,000 jobs for Berber women across 170 co-ops, but also an important social lifeline. 

Agadir, Morocco (CNN) -- In Agadir, the arid heartland of Morocco's indigenous Berber population, a quiet oil boom is gaining momentum, one drop at a time.

Argan oil, crushed from the seeds of the short, spiky argan tree, has been used for centuries as a medicine and staple ingredient in local cooking -- drizzled on salads and couscous or mixed with almonds and honey to make amlou, a dip for bread.

But now the oil is generating buzz as a high-end commodity in the lucrative global cosmetics market. Rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, it's believed to help all sorts of skin conditions -- including acne, psoriasis and age-related wrinkles.

• Argan oil, crushed from the nut of the rare Argan tree, is a traditional Berber product
• Recently, the oil has been touted as a miracle beauty treatment by cosmetic industry in the west
• Production has been driven by hundreds of women's worker co-ops using traditional methods
• Popularity of oil has also helped the survival of the tree, which once faced extinction

Related:

Read: A rebirth of Berber culture in post-Gadhafi Libya 

Berber culture is reborn in Post-Gadhafi Libya

Berber culture is reborn in Libya (cnn)

• Libya's indigenous Berber population had their culture suppressed under Gadhafi
• Also known as Amazigh, they could not even give their children Berber names
• Amazigh culture is blossoming in post-Gadhafi Libya
• But activists fear that their culture and language will not be protected in the new Libya

DK jaan

berber ham nashodim...

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IRAN FIRST

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