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Marrakech – Nasser Zefzafi, the imprisoned leader of the Rif Hirak movement, received exceptional permission to temporarily leave prison on Thursday to attend the funeral of his father Ahmed Zefzafi. The decision was granted by Morocco’s General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration (DGAPR).
Ahmed Zefzafi died on Wednesday following a prolonged battle with cancer. He had been hospitalized in intensive care at a private clinic in Al Hoceima for several days before his death.
Circulating videos showed the moment Nasser Zefzafi arrived at his parents’ home in Ajdir to attend his father’s funeral. Some observers described it as a rare and symbolic gesture, noting that his appearance without handcuffs, heavy guard, or tight security signaled an opening toward reconciliation and a possible path to closing the Hirak detainees’ file.
The funeral prayer will be held at Al-Atiq mosque in Al Hoceima following the Asr prayer on Thursday afternoon. Ahmed Zefzafi will then be buried at Al Moujahidines cemetery in Ajdir, where Nasser was also permitted to receive condolences alongside family members.
Tarik Zefzafi, another son of the deceased, had announced his father’s death on Facebook, writing: “My dear father, the resistant man, Sidi Ahmed, is in God’s hands.” Hours earlier, he had posted that his father was spending his final moments in intensive care.
This marks the second time authorities have granted Nasser Zefzafi a humanitarian leave from Tanger II prison. In May, he had been allowed to visit his hospitalized father as his health deteriorated.
Ahmed Zefzafi had become an important voice within the Rif Hirak movement, which emerged in 2016 following the death of Mohcine Fikri, a fishmonger who was crushed to death in a garbage truck.
The movement protested against the marginalization of the Rif region and demanded social and economic reforms including employment, healthcare, infrastructure, and an end to marginalization.
The movement protested against the neglect of the Rif region and demanded social and economic reforms, including employment, healthcare, and infrastructure, and an end to marginalization. However, it was also marred by accusations of separatist undertones.
Following his son’s arrest in May 2017, Ahmed Zefzafi had become an unofficial spokesperson for the families of Hirak detainees. He regularly participated in marches and gatherings, making statements to national and international media, consistently asserting his son’s innocence and the peaceful nature of the Hirak’s demands.
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) issued a statement honoring Ahmed Zefzafi’s memory as “a militant and human rights defender” who embodied “the pain and injustice suffered by the Rif.” The organization also renewed its call for the release of Nasser Zefzafi, his companions, and all political prisoners.
Nasser Zefzafi is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence following his conviction in 2019 for his role in the Rif protests, which spread beyond Al Hoceima to other cities and localities in the Rif region.
The movement is considered one of the most important protest movements in Morocco over the past decade. As such, the temporary release carries symbolic weight and has drawn widespread attention across social media.
Read also: Nasser Zefzafi, Hirak Rif Activist, Excels in University Exams from Prison
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