Arabic Language as a Sovereign Cultural Imperative: Minister Meziane Calls for a Strategic Media Shift

Arabic Language as a Sovereign Cultural Imperative: Minister Meziane Calls for a Strategic Media Shift

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algeria’s Minister of Communication Declares the Arabic Language a Core Pillar of National Identity and Sovereignty, Urging Media Institutions to Anchor a New Linguistic Consciousness

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Algiers, Algeria– Tuesday, July 23, 2025 | In an address delivered on Tuesday in Algiers, Mohamed Meziane, Algeria’s Minister of Communication, made a powerful case for the elevation of the Arabic language as an instrument of sovereignty and cultural preservation. Speaking at the opening session of the inaugural Arab Colloquium on Arabic in the Media, held under the theme “Edhad (Arabic) in the Media” at the El Aurassi Hotel on July 22–23, Meziane emphasized that the promotion of Arabic in media is no longer a matter of academic luxury or national nostalgia—but a sovereign necessity.

“The Arabic language is a question of symbolic identity and a civilizational message, not merely a linguistic structure,” declared Meziane, calling on media professionals, linguists, and policymakers to forge a new linguistic conscience capable of withstanding the intensifying symbolic battles over national identity in an era of sweeping communicative transformations.

Organized by the Al Kalima Association for Culture and Media, the colloquium serves, in Meziane’s words, not just as an academic exchange, but as a “strategic platform aimed at reinstating the centrality of Arabic in the media landscape.” The Minister advocated for the drafting of a binding charter that would institutionalize Arabic’s place in the national media, arguing that Algeria’s linguistic sovereignty transcends fleeting rhetorical commitments and requires codified national policies.

Meziane’s message resonates with a broader political vision championed by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The Minister highlighted that President Tebboune has granted the Arabic language special attention within the framework of a holistic sovereignty doctrine—one that affirms that sovereignty is not confined to territorial integrity or decision-making autonomy but extends equally to linguistic authority and collective consciousness. Meziane cited the establishment of the President of the Republic’s Award for the Arabic Language as emblematic of this vision, describing it as a civilizational act grounded in the state’s long-term strategic orientation.

“The defense of Arabic is not a theoretical pursuit,” Meziane stressed, “but a matter of existential urgency that demands intellectual rigor, political will, and pedagogical strategy.”

The Minister also addressed the broader question of Algeria’s national identity, affirming that promoting Arabic does not entail the marginalization of other cultural components. “The Algerian identity is rich, plural, and integrated,” he said. “Its strength lies in the mosaic of its cultural elements and the harmony of its particularities within the crucible of unity and national belonging.”

Turning his focus to the regional media landscape, Meziane underlined the indispensable role of Arab media in transforming Arabic into a language of science, innovation, and modern communication. This ambition, he said, necessitates robust support mechanisms for media outlets, enabling them to meet the aspirations of the Arab nations in their pursuit of comprehensive and sustainable development.

“The relationship between media and language is no longer a matter of form and content,” Meziane asserted. “It is a question of existence and discourse.”

He warned against the creeping fragility in Arabic media discourse, often undermined by linguistic slippage under the weight of real-time reporting and an overreliance on foreign terminology. To counter this, he urged media institutions to enhance their content quality and linguistic discipline, positioning themselves to compete with foreign Arabic-language productions, especially in the digital and satellite space.

Meziane issued a direct appeal to the colloquium’s participants: “We must think collectively about a new charter for Arabic in the media. I invite you to emerge from this conference with actionable recommendations, grounded in practical vision, and to adopt a pact for the revitalization of Arabic in our media institutions.”

The colloquium concluded with a tribute by Al Kalima Association to several prominent figures from the media and literary sectors who have championed the cause of Arabic, including Minister Meziane himself. This gesture underscored the importance of recognizing those who have played pivotal roles in reinforcing the presence of Arabic across various cultural and communicative spheres.

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