Morocco’s government has filed criminal charges against more than 2,400 people following a series of youth-led demonstrations that turned into unrest. It’s one of the country’s largest crackdowns in years.
According to judicial records, 2,480 individuals have been charged, with 1,473 still held in custody as they await trial. The charges range from armed rebellion and incitement to commit felonies to assaulting public officials and insulting state authorities.
The protests occurred after a social media movement called Gen Z 212 galvanized thousands of young Moroccans to demand better public services and accountability. Using platforms like Discord to organize, protesters accused the government of prioritizing infrastructure for international sporting events while neglecting education, healthcare, and job opportunities.
Despite organizers’ calls for nonviolence, the demonstrations turned chaotic in several regions, resulting in three deaths, multiple injuries, and damage to property. Human rights organizations have criticized the authorities’ forceful response, though the public prosecutor maintains that law enforcement acted within the bounds of the law.
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The arrests have drawn growing condemnation from rights advocates, who say the mass detentions are arbitrary and intended to stifle dissent. The Moroccan Association for Human Rights described the arrests as random and unjustified, while Gen Z 212 continues to demand the immediate release of all detainees.
“Those calling for a fair chance for their future should not be met with lethal force and repression,” said Hanan Salah, Associate Director at Human Rights Watch, in a recent statement.
Among those detained, according to AP’s report, is rapper Hamza Raid, taken into custody in Casablanca last month. His politically charged lyrics have long resonated with disillusioned Moroccan youth.
Meanwhile, three others appeared in a Rabat court on Monday after being accused of inciting crimes and insulting a public institution for printing protest slogans on Morocco’s national soccer jerseys. Their lawyers, representing two students and a print shop worker, pleaded for bail, arguing that their clients had done nothing to warrant such severe treatment.
Officials indicated that more than 400 people have already been convicted, receiving sentences ranging from one to 15 years, while 34 were acquitted of all charges.
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