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Rabat – As Gen Z protests continue to sweep across Morocco, Rachid El Khalfi, spokesperson of Morocco’s Ministry of the Interior, said today that Morocco has largely respected and preserved the right to protest as a legitimate form of grievance expression.
El Khalfi made his remarks during an interview with CNN, emphasizing that his remarks also serve to update the international community, which has been keenly interested in the situation of Morocco amid youth-led protests.
In the interview, he also responded to criticism, questioning the right to freedom of speech and expression.
He said that Morocco is home to 600 demonstrations per month, which “means that a culture of protesting” already exists and that demonstrations pose no problem.
He also stressed that the protests reflect a dynamism of society, as well as the state’s commitment to listening and removing misunderstandings.
Morocco has been under the radar, especially following police interventions during protests that took place in September to demand reforms for healthcare and education.
Arrests of youth involved in the GenZ212 movement, leading the protests, sparked concerns and anger among Moroccans. The first week of October witnessed an escalation, as many youths were engaged in vandalism and riots.
The situation sparked further concerns, with many supporting peaceful protests rather than chaos.
Addressing questions regarding the shooting that killed three in the Inzegane-Ait Melloul region, El Khalfi said that police acted within the framework of self-defense as they were exposed to danger.
“We all saw the videos showing people attempting to break into the [Royal Gendarmerie] headquarters,” El Khalfi said, emphasizing that an investigation is ongoing.
“It is too early to reach any conclusion on these matters,” he added.
He also addressed the situation in Oujda, where security vehicles were seen running over protesters. One protester lost a leg in one of the incidents.
El Khalfi suggested that “the video circulating was cut out of context. We do not know what happened before the video, whether there was stone-throwing or other actions against the police.”
An investigation is ongoing into the situation, vowing that all cases are dealt with seriously and with a proper probe, he added.
“There is a necessity and keenness to apply the law against anyone violating it, whether police or protesters,” he said.
El Khalfi emphasized that there is still time to determine and understand the motives behind what happened.
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