As Morocco readies to host a major continental football tournament, a severe government response to recent youth-led protests has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights observers. The demonstrations, which erupted in late September, were fueled by widespread discontent over inadequate public funding for healthcare and education.
Reports indicate a pattern of harsh suppression following the protests. Families and legal advocates describe mass arbitrary arrests, with many detainees alleging brutal beatings and degrading treatment while in police custody. One mother recounted how her 18-year-old son was seized from a casual meal out, not from a protest, and was so severely assaulted during his arrest that he lost teeth. She claims he was beaten again in detention for refusing to sign police documents.
Rights organizations report that female protesters faced specific abuses, including harassment, sexist insults, and inappropriate physical contact. The legal aftermath appears equally severe. According to monitoring groups, over two thousand individuals are now facing prosecution in connection with the unrest. Dozens involved in peaceful demonstrations have been charged with violent acts, and some have already received lengthy prison sentences, with terms reportedly reaching up to fifteen years. Critics point to flawed judicial processes, including the absence of defense lawyers during initial hearings and a lack of presumption of innocence.
The situation turned deadly in early October in the town of Lqliâa, where three protesters were shot and killed. Fourteen others, including children, sustained gunshot wounds. Authorities stated that security forces responded after protesters stormed a local police station, a claim contested by witnesses and rights groups.
Analysts suggest the scale of the crackdown reflects official apprehension. “The government clearly got scared and orchestrated this response to send a strong message that they will not tolerate dissent,” commented a regional human rights researcher.
In the wake of the protests, the government announced commitments to increase social spending. However, this has done little to assuage public anger, which was further inflamed recently when flash floods killed dozens, with critics accusing the state of neglecting essential infrastructure in favor of prestige projects.
Despite announced reforms, a climate of fear persists. Many young people are reportedly too afraid to return to the streets, haunted by testimonies of torture and forced confessions. Lawyers volunteering to defend those arrested cite numerous procedural violations, from unlawful arrests to convictions based on scant evidence.
The families of those killed continue to seek accountability. Relatives of two victims detained after a silent vigil in the capital said police confiscated their phones and deleted evidence of their gathering. “We just want justice, a transparent investigation, and accountability,” said a family member of one deceased protester.
Authorities maintain that all legal procedures have been followed, asserting that conditions for fair trials are being respected and that any groups dispersed were acting unlawfully. As the international spotlight turns to Morocco for its hosting duties, the domestic focus remains on the hundreds of young people still detained and the allegations of systemic abuse surrounding their arrest and prosecution.