Morocco: Women’s protests to continue throughout country

Event

Female activists in Morocco have vowed to continue to hold anti-government protests, just days after jail sentences were handed out to activists in Al-Hoceima (Rif region; north of the country). Hundreds of women staged a protest in Casablanca on Friday, July 7, to demand the release of four political prisoners. Another group of women demonstrated in Rabat on Saturday, July 8, to denounce alleged politically-motivated arrests.

Context

Last month, security forces suppressed a women's protest in Al-Hoceima calling for access to jobs and health services, encircling protesters to impede others from joining.

This recent wave of demonstrations began when thousands of protesters took to the streets of Al-Hoceima on May 18. Since the end of May, authorities have arrested more than 100 people, including Nasser Zefzafi - the leader of the grassroots "Popular Movement" - who has demanded improved access to jobs and development, an end to corruption, and the release of arrested protesters. Al-Hoceima has been plagued with unrest since October 2016, when violent protests broke out after a fishmonger was killed while trying to prevent his wares from being confiscated by police. Security forces temporarily deployed to the area began to withdraw from Al-Hoceima on July 3 at the request of King Mohammed VI, after weeks of social unrest and violent clashes between police and protesters in the region.

Advice

Individuals in Morocco are advised to avoid any form of public demonstration as a precaution and to keep abreast of the general climate.