Morocco: Gen Z protester’s sentence sparks rights fears

Moroccan activist and filmmaker Zineb Kharroubi, 29, received a six-month suspended prison sentence and was fined 5,000 dirhams (around $530) by a Casablanca court on 30 June after promoting a gathering outside the Moroccan embassy in Paris, as reported by the Libya Gazette on July 6.

She was convicted under Article 299-1 of Morocco’s Penal Code for allegedly “inciting crimes through electronic means”. Her lawyers argued that promoting a peaceful demonstration is not a criminal offence and that Moroccan courts lacked jurisdiction because the posts were published in France, but the court rejected both arguments.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) condemned the ruling, saying it represents a growing trend of prosecuting young people for peacefully exercising their right to protest. The organisation warned that it contributes to the criminalisation of freedom of expression and civic engagement.

The New Arab and agencies, Maghrebi.org