“Time to Act Deeply”: Moroccans want change from the monarch
Public pressure from Moroccans on the monarch grows as dozens of key figures urge the King to take the protests seriously and respond with reform.
According to Yabiladi on October 8th, around 60 Moroccan public figures, including politicians, intellectuals, journalists, and human rights activists, have signed an open letter addressed to King Mohammed VI, calling on him to intervene with the ongoing nationwide Gen Z protests.
The letter, titled “Time to Act Deeply,” describes what it calls a deteriorating social climate. It warns that “the Moroccan people are suffering, and its youth have been loudly protesting in the streets for ten days,” while alleging the authorities have responded with “repression and hundreds of arrests.”
There were some seriously notable figures amongst the signatories, such as parliamentarian Abdelaziz Aftati, lawyer Abderrahim Jamai, journalist Omar Radi, writer Abdellatif Laabi, media scholar Omar Brouksy, activist Ahmed Benchemsi, historian, Maati Monjib, and politician Nabila Mounib.
They said they felt compelled to appeal to the King “before the spiral of despair and violence, God forbid, leads us into the unknown.” The letter states that the Moroccan youth, described as “the beating heart of Moroccan society,” are demanding reforms in health, education, and more importantly, “a reform of the entire governance approach.”
The signatories backed the protesters’ demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch’s government, insisting that the move should occur through constitutional mechanisms. However, they cautioned that any resignation would remain “symbolic unless it addressed the deeper structural causes of national discontent.”
The letter outlined the main priorities for change, citing the importance of listening to the citizens’ demands for reform in key institutions. There was also a call for institutional reform, particularly through combatting corruption and cronyism.
An interesting part of the letter urges King Mohammed VI to extend condolences to the families of victims of the violent skirmishes between authorities and protestors.
They want the King to ensure transparent investigations take place and to also initiate a “human rights breakthrough” by releasing detainees from the Gen Z 212 movement, along with political figures from previous movements.
It concludes with an appeal to the monarch: “We sincerely hope that you receive this letter as a genuine initiative aimed at moving our country forward, without blame or exclusion.”
The movement has only grown as the days have gone on, and the monarch’s tactic of silence only seems to be stoking the fire further. The National Union of Higher Education recently announced a 2-day strike on October 7th and 8th, protesting a recent education bill that could affect university funding.
Whether the King’s silence breaks with actionable change or continues as restraint, the coming days will determine if Morocco’s unrest fades, or ignites something deeper.
Yabiladi, Maghrebi
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