Moroccan authorities disperse demos in several cities

By Khaled Majdoub

RABAT

Moroccan security forces late Tuesday dispersed demonstrations in several cities -- including Rabat, Casablanca and Fez -- amid an ongoing wave of protests in the country’s northeast.

Since last October, Morocco’s northeastern Al-Rif region -- especially the city of Hoceima -- has seen intermittent protests by local youth demanding jobs and decrying government corruption.

On Tuesday night, security forces dispersed a demonstration held outside the parliament building in capital Rabat.

Video footage shared on social media showed security forces attempting to break up protests in several parts of the country, with reports of injuries among demonstrators.

In some cases, protesters could be heard chanting slogans reiterating demands articulated earlier by demonstrators in Al-Rif.

Demonstrators are also calling for the release of all those recently detained in the Al-Rif protests, according to videos posted by activists on social media.

Within the last three days alone, some 40 activists have been arrested in the northeastern region for taking part in what some government officials have described as an “armed insurrection”.

During one demonstration held Sunday, the authorities arrested Nasser Zefzafi, the head of Morocco’s opposition Hirak movement, along with 22 other activists.

The wave of demonstrations was initially sparked last October by the death of Mohsen Fikri, a fisherman who was crushed to death by a garbage truck in Hoceima while protesting attempts by local authorities to confiscate his fish.

On Monday, three political parties held Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit responsible for failing to contain the ongoing wave of unrest.

In a joint statement, the ruling Justice and Development Party (JDP), the Socialist Union Party (a JDP coalition partner) and the opposition Istiqlal Party called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of all those recently detained for taking part in protests.