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Rabat – Abderrahmane El Azri, the youngest Hirak Rif activist, left detention on Tuesday after spending more than three months in Nador’s youth detention center.
The 14-year-old’s release was confirmed by Rachid Belaali, a member of the defense committee for the Hirak detainees, reported Moroccan news outlet H24. The activist is expected to leave the detention center on Wednesday.
Hirak Rif member was arrested after participating in an unauthorized protest held on August 9, following the death of Imad El Attabi due to a severe head injury he sustained during the July 20 march in Al Hoceima.
The death of El Attabi pushed hundreds of protesters, including the 14-year old activist, to Al Hoceima streets to mourn and protest against Morocco’s security approach. The protest saw massive clashes between police and demonstrators.
The Hirak Rif detainees’ lawyer, Abdessadek El Bouchtaoui, requested his client’s release in late August to “allow him to spend Eid Al Adha holiday with his family,” reported Moroccan news outlet La Depeche. The investigating judge of the Al Hoceima, however, refused the initial request.
The lawyer explained that the judge refused the child’s liberty as the police have a picture of the 14-year-old with a stone in his hand on the day of the demonstration.
The Hirak Rif movement started as a reaction to the death of Mohcine Fikri, who was fatally crushed by a truck compactor as he tried to retrieve fish merchandise which had been confiscated and discarded by law enforcement officers.
The protests against Fikri’s death turned into a massive movement that continued for more than nine months.
