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Rabat — Condemnations, anger, and frustration are pouring from Moroccans of all ages against the mass arrests that took place on Saturday in youth-led protests in Rabat and Casablanca.
Many young people took to the streets on Saturday to take part in a demonstration that sought to call on the government to introduce concrete measures to address unemployment and socio-economic gaps weighing down sectors, including healthcare.
The protests, organized by Morocco Youth Voice, were met by a heavy crackdown, in which many were detained.
Many Moroccans took to social media to condemn the mass arrests, highlighting the constitutional right to organize peaceful street protests and sit-ins.
Article 29 of Morocco’s Constitution stipulates that people’s right to engage in freedom of assembly, peaceful demonstration, and association is guaranteed and safeguarded.
Viral videos online show police arresting men and women of all ages, including people engaged in giving statements to the press.
Footage also shows police running after protesters in Casablanca and Rabat, with people screaming and chanting slogans like “what a scandal.” The chant reflected people’s reaction to the security approach deployed during the arrests.
Youth also chanted, “The people want to overthrow corruption.”
Prior to the meeting, the Political Bureau of the Democratic Left Federation, a collection of Moroccan leftist parties, expressed concerns over the “growing public unrest across the country.”
It also “strongly condemned what it described as intimidation, repression, and arrests targeting these protests, affirming its full and principled support for the legitimate demands of various popular groups.”
The party’s youth wing issued a new statement on Saturday, expressing “full solidarity with all youth and citizens arrested” for participating in recent protests.
The party demanded their immediate release and dropping of all charges against them, reiterating commitment to defending free and quality public education as well as health as “central to dignity and social justice.”
The party also warned against the use of security measures against peaceful protests, calling for a broad national dialogue that puts youth at the center.
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