Call to Moroccan Proletarians – Ahmed Ben Thami (1936)

_{Hassan Tower in Rabat, Morocco}

[As with every other text on this site, this article is republished strictly for the purpose of allowing an awareness of the historical record, not as any kind of endorsement or encouragement of the views expressed by its author. -Ed.]

For the Freedom of Morocco, You Must Revolt Against the Criminal Franco

Translated from the Spanish-language article in ‘Solidaridad Obrera: Portavoz de la Confederación Nacional del Trabajo de España’, September 8, 1936, Barcelona

I, Ahmed Ben Thami, born in Rabat (Morocco), a gunner for four years in the great war, now fight alongside the anti-fascists at the Aragón front, in the ranks of the Ascaso column. I left the work I had in France to fight for the freedom of the people of Spain.

I address the comrades of spanish Morocco: the spanish who currently dominate in Morocco are all fascists. If Abd-el-Krim arrives, all the natives will have to take the opportunity to revolt against General Franco, who wants to establish in Spain and Morocco a fascism of the italian type. Comrades should not forget the crimes the italian fascists committed in Abyssinia [Ethiopia], bombing ambulances and open cities with suffocating gases. Now the moor comrades must fight not only for the freedom of the spanish workers, who are our brothers, but also in order for this freedom to extend to all the spanish colonies, including Morocco.

The fascist Franco has swindled the natives. He takes them to spanish territory and tells them that he works for their benefit and for that of the spanish Republic. All of this is false.

Native comrades, my brothers, the day and hour have arrived to fight for Freedom and against fascism with our spanish comrades. We will win this struggle if you, comrades, turn your arms against the generals and against the native bosses who command you, since they are with Franco and receive money from him to betray you. Don’t listen to them! Turn your arms against them!

I came from France to Spain with several moors and algerians who are still with me as we give a hand to the spanish comrades and build the triumph of the common cause. We want to save Morocco from colonial exploitation; we are here to help in gaining that independence. As for the natives who come here from Morocco with the spanish legionnaires, enemies of our people and of the workers of Spain, when they arrive on the line of fire they can abandon the fascists who swindled them and go over to the workers’ militias, because we, within a few weeks, will have forever extirpated the fascism that reigns in Spain.

Once fascism is defeated, generals like Franco have a plane prepared so they can flee, and they will leave behind the poor natives that have been swindled by such vile and criminal ex-generals.

Do not wait until the final day, because if you wait for the hour of our forces’ definitive triumph, it will be too late and we will not forgive those who have helped the cause of the fascists and the traitors, and capital punishment will be applied.

The best way to preserve life and freedom is to help the anti-fascists and to not betray them for ill-acquired money. This money, after the triumph of the forces of the people, will be of no use in saving the lives of traitors.

Our spanish comrades and revolutionaries from other countries, as well as the natives who are here, all fight for the freedom of the peoples and, in particular, for the liberation of spanish Morocco. If you turn your arms against the fascists and against the Caliph of Tétouan, who is the reprehensible friend of the fascist Franco, you will have the support of all the revolutionary comrades, liberal and democratic. At the precise moment you rise up in Morocco, our trustworthy republican troops here will come to help you. Our revolutionary comrades are waiting for your revolt in order to come to your aid with our aviation, artillery, warships and all the material necessary for liberation.

Remember, brothers of Morocco and of Islam, the aid that the republican people of Spain gave us during the uprising of Abd-el-Krim against the military and monarchist oppressors to whom Franco had lent his support. I remember the aid that our brothers, the spanish workers gave us. That is why I am fighting here today in Spain against the common enemy, alongside my brothers, the spanish workers.

Brothers, moroccan workers! Revolt against Franco, tyrant of the moroccan people and the spanish people! Don’t be fooled! The regime that Franco wants to impose on Spain is the most horrible military domination ever known. Don’t be fooled, because if he wins, it will be the end of Morocco!

For the independence of Morocco, let us all fight against the fascist and criminal, Franco!