Morocco’s Gen Z protests: A bullet that broke the silence
The murder of a young filmmaker in Morocco sparks further unrest amongst the Gen Z protesters, according to The Guardian on October 14th.
A freshly graduated filmmaker named Abdessamade, and two others, were reportedly killed on October 1st when security forces opened fire on Gen Z protesters in the town of Lqliaa, the British left wing broadsheet claims.
The film-maker’s brother, Ayoub Oubalat, shared a picture of Abdessamade, covered in a white blanket, with the fatal wound visible at the crown of his head. Authorities claim Abdemassade was part of a group that stormed a local police station, which officers claim is the reason they opened fire. Ayoub, however, described his brother as a “peaceful man” who merely found himself near the protests and began filming.
Ayoub also stated his brother applied to the police force only two days before his death. “He wanted to serve his country, and needed a stable job to buy new equipment for his films.”
The Moroccan police have been cracking down on the protests, almost to the point of repression. Salaheddine Lemaizi, editor-in-chief of Moroccan news outlet Enass, spoke on the details of the arrests.
“We are still waiting for updated figures, but a document compiled by Moroccan lawyers shows that in the first six days of protest, more than 500 people were arrested. Of these, we know 272 remain in detention, including 36 minors, while 221 have been released pending trial.” Lemaizi said.
Abdessamade’s death and the mass arrests have only put fuel to the fire. Platforms such as discord are where the young protesters choose to organise themselves, with one channel even amassing around 200,000 subscribers to date.
The viral hashtag #FreeKoulchi, meaning “Free Everyone” in Moroccan Arabic, encapsulates the frustration felt by the protesters. An ignored generation growing tired of a system that they feel has failed them.
King Mohammed has acknowledged the protests, in a speech to parliament made on October 10th, he called for rapid social reforms, however he did not address the protesters’ specific demands to tackle corruption and release activists.
Prime Minister, Aziz Akhannouch, has also spoke on the Gen Z movement, stating the government is “ready for dialogue and discussion.”
As Maghrebi reported, the protests are only growing louder and garnering more support, particularly from The National Union of Higher Education. Although violence has erupted in pockets of the country, the movement remains largely peaceful despite growing frustrations.
The youth movement have announced a peaceful sit-in on October 18th to demand structural reforms.
The Guardian, Maghrebi
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