Over 2000 Moroccan youths prosecuted following protests

Moroccan youth protesters took their country by surprise when they organised demonstrations to express their anger at the corruption and the lack of investment in public services. Some protests turned violent, and now more than 2,400 young Moroccans who participated in these protests are facing charges, according to AP.

In total 2,480 were charged on varied counts including: inciting people to commit felonies, insults and violence towards officers, and armed rebellion. 1,473 young Moroccans are in custody awaiting their trial, while multiple were already given sentences for their involvement in the violent protests

The mostly peaceful demonstrations started after groups, like GenZ 212, called the country’s youth to take to the streets on social media platforms, culminating in Morocco’s largest anti-government protests in years.

The leaders of the groups urged for peaceful demonstrations and advocated for civil paths for resolutions. However, a few cities were spun into the violence, which took the lives of three young Moroccans and caused damages that the detainees were charged with.

According to a public prosecutor 400 people received sentences ranging from 1 to 15 years, while charges were dropped for 34 others. The large-scale arrests were criticised by rights groups who noted the severity of the authorities towards the protesters, while the public prosecutor stated that the authorities’ interventions were done in due process.

Human rights groups have also decried the prosecution and rallied to support the demonstrators, who were also showing their solidarity for the arrested with placards during the latest protests.

The wave of arrests was denounced and qualified as random by the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, and leaders of Gen Z 212 advocated for all of the detainees to be released immediately.

The detention of young Moroccans is controversial due to the age of the demonstrators, who took to the streets to express their anger regarding important subjects that affect their right to a dignified life in their country.

Hanan Salah, Associate Director at Human Rights Watch, released a statement to denounce the use of lethal force and repression against protesters who were calling for more fairness to ensure they have a good future.

However, it seems as though some Moroccans were also prosecuted for referring to the demonstrations. Three out of the 2,480 detainees were detained by local authorities for printing protest slogans on Moroccan football jerseys. Their detainees’ attorneys said that they were charged with “incitement to commit felonies and insulting an official body” and appeared in court on October 27th.

They could spend 5 years in prison if sentenced, and the lawyers called for their clients to be released on bail, arguing that the young Moroccans’ future could be greatly impacted from minor actions that don’t justify the severity of the potential sentences.

The Moroccan government indirectly responded to the protesters demands by increasing the budgets for the ministries of health and education. However, the leaders are still calling for structural reforms and were unsure whether the additional funds would solve more systemic problems in the long run.

AP, Maghrebi.org