Morocco is experiencing an “exceptional” situation by all measures due to the deteriorating social and economic conditions, as well as strikes and protests occurring across vital sectors of the kingdom, according to the Moroccan Space for Human Rights.
Key Points:
- Economic Hardship: The organization highlighted the weakening purchasing power of citizens, lack of job opportunities, and failures in the educational, judicial and health systems.
- Youth Despair: These conditions have led to despair among youth, loss of confidence in living in the country, and forced mass migration, as evidenced by recent events in Fnideq on September 25th.
- Widespread Protests: Various vital sectors are witnessing strikes and protests, including Ministry of Justice employees, lawyers, medical and pharmacy students, engineers, and anti-normalization activists.
- Government Criticism: The statement criticized the continuation of “failed policies” and accused authorities of creating marginal battles to distract public opinion from pressing issues and priority needs.
- Calls for Release: The organization demanded the release of political detainees and those arrested during social protests, calling for a comprehensive human rights breakthrough to overcome the crisis.
Additional Concerns:
- The Moroccan Body for Supporting Political Prisoners renewed its demand for the immediate release of former Human Rights Minister Mohammed Zian, considering his detention “arbitrary and retaliatory.”
- Reports indicate that 82-year-old Zian’s health has deteriorated due to heart attacks while in prison, raising further questions about his detention conditions.
The Moroccan Space for Human Rights expressed its commitment to collaborative work with other human rights movements and community bodies to defend rights and freedoms and oppose corruption and authoritarian overreach. It also called for dropping all normalization agreements, likely referring to recent diplomatic developments with Israel.
This situation underscores the complex socio-economic challenges facing Morocco and the growing discontent among various segments of society.
Author: nor-eleslam
morocco protests economic crisis social unrest
