 The fundamental characteristic of this policy consisted in preserving the traditional autonomy of Berbers, primarily in the legal field, by disassociating them from the Islamic legislation or "Chrâa", and by maintaining their common law known as or "Azref".The Resident General had sultan Yusef sign the Dahir or legislative text, which gave it the force of law.The net result was that some Berber tribes were separated from the Islamic law, and made many Berber courts subject to French jurisdiction.