In North Africa, the issue of preserving the Islamic identity, and particularly Arabization - replacing French with Arabic in the areas of education and government - is still as controversial as it was when the countries of the region gained their independence 40 years ago.
When France colonized North Africa, it was not merely economic exploitation or political domination, but a comprehensive annexation that sought to eliminate the national Magreb (the west of the Muslim world) heritage and traditions.
