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Rabat – The Court of Appeal in Agadir delivered harsh verdicts on Tuesday, sentencing 17 young adults to a combined total of 162 years in prison for their involvement in riots and acts of vandalism that shook the Ait Amira area in the province of Chtouka Ait Baha.
According to reported judicial sources, the defendants were convicted on multiple charges, including deliberately setting fire to public property, particularly vehicles belonging to security forces, alongside violent acts and destruction of both public and private assets.
The court said these actions posed a serious threat to public safety and stability in the region.
According to converging reports, the prison sentences were distributed as follows: three defendants received 15 years each, one was sentenced to 12 years, nine were given 10 years each, one received 5 years, another 4 years, and two defendants were sentenced to 3 years.
The rulings came after lengthy hearings during which the court reviewed detailed evidence and testimonies about the unrest, which caused significant material damage and disrupted local security.
The events in Ait Amira unfolded at a tense moment across Morocco, coinciding with the rise of the GenZ212 movement, which has been organizing peaceful demonstrations nationwide to demand dignity, social justice, and transparency in governance.
While the movement consistently emphasized its commitment to nonviolence, the unrest in Ait Amira took place during the same period when several cities were witnessing mass youth gatherings calling for reform.
According to local observers, the riots in Ait Amira, marked by acts of vandalism, arson, and clashes with security forces, were an isolated incident that contrasted sharply with the peaceful tone of the GenZ212 protests.
The timing of the events nevertheless drew public attention, as they occurred amid heightened security alert and government scrutiny of any form of street mobilization.
In recent weeks, GenZ212 had even announced a temporary pause of its demonstrations “to preserve public safety and prevent provocation,” before later announcing their intent to resume its peaceful marches on Saturday, October 18.
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