Ferhat Mehenni

Ferhat Mehenni, also known as Ferhat Imazighen Imula (Kabyle: Ferḥat Mḥenni or Ferḥat Imazighen Imula, born March 5, 1951), is a Kabyle political activist, singer, and founder and first President of the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia. He has been President of the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia (formerly known as the MAK Movement) since June 1, 2010.[1]

Ferhat Mehenni
Photo taken at the gathering of September 4, 2011, on the Plaza of Human Rights in Paris
President of the MAK
Assumed office
June 4, 2010
MAK Chairman
In office
August 24, 2001 – December 9, 2011
Succeeded byBouaziz Ait Chebib
Personal details
Born (1951-03-05) March 5, 1951
Illoula Oumalou, Tizi Ouzou Province, French Algeria
CitizenshipAlgerian
Political partyRCD (1989–1997)
MAK (2001–present)
Alma materUniversity of Algiers
ProfessionPolitician
AwardsNONE

In 2012, Mehenni was subjected to controversy after visiting Israel, where he voiced his support and solidarity for Israel, comparing it to Kabylia.[2]

Career and Politics

Early life

Mehenni was born on March 5, 1951, in Illoula Oumalou, Tizi Ouzou Province, Algeria. He graduated from the University of Algiers with a degree in political science. Mehenni won first prize in the Algiers Modern Music Festival in 1973. Soon after, he began his career as a protest singer and political activist.[3]

Activism

Due to his hostility towards the Algerian government and extremists, Mehenni was arrested 13 times, imprisoned for 3 years, and tortured repeatedly by government forces.[4]

In response to the Black Spring massacre in Kabylia, Mehenni established the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia. The MAK was later reformed into the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia.[5]

Mehenni's eldest son, Améziane Mehenni, was assassinated in 2004.[3]

Bibliography

Mehenni is the author of Algérie: La Question Kabyle, published in 2004, in which he explains his ideas about Kabyle nationalism.

Discography
Title Translation Year
Chants berbères de lutte et d'espoir Berber Songs of Struggle and Hope 1983
Tuγac n ddkir Songs of Steel, Love, and Liberty 1994
Tuγac n tmes d waman Songs of Fire and Water 1996 & 2001
I Tmurt n Leqvayel Hymn to Kabylia 2002
Adekker d usirem Requiem and Hope 2004

References
  1. https://www.kabylie-gouv.org/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. Sharon Udasin; Jan Koscinski (May 27, 2007). "Algeria's Kabylie craves friendship with Israel". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  3. MacEoin, Denis (March 22, 2010). "Dissident watch: Ferhat Mehenni". Middle East Quarterly. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  4. "Dissident watch: Ferhat Mehenni". Middle East Quarterly. March 22, 2010. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
  5. "Home". makabylie.org.
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