Rabat - Nabil Andaloussi, a Justice and Development Party (PJD) member of parliament, has denounced the arrests of activists in Al Hoceima, saying that the solution to unrest in the city lies in development, not in police action.
Rabat – Nabil Andaloussi, a Justice and Development Party (PJD) member of parliament, has denounced the arrests of activists in Al Hoceima, saying that the solution to unrest in the city lies in development, not in police action.
While he was speaking in the opening oral question session of the House of Advisors on Tuesday, Andaloussi said that the arrest of activists will “complicate” matters.
Andaloussi called on the government and authorities to listen to citizens and take their socio-economic demands into consideration, adding that “although Morocco stepped forward in the transition to a country of institutions and law in 2017, still we notice there are retreats.”
“This is unfair, what is happening to many families that denounce and call for help because they don’t know the location of their sons thus far,” Andaloussi said, warning the government to take responsibility for these “violations,” before adding the Al Hoceima inhabitants’ demands are “legitimate.”
Forty people were arrested on the weekend. They were placed under custody for investigations over a range of charges, said Prosecutor of the Al Hoceima’s Court of Appeal in a communiqué on Monday evening.
Twenty-five people were charged with violence and insults against security forces, armed disobedience, holding an unauthorized protest and damaging vehicles used for public service, the communiqué added. Seven other released suspects were also charged with insulting security forces, disobedience and holding an unauthorized protest. The prosecution dropped charges against seven further suspects.
Over the past few days, the tensions have grown in Al Hoceima following the police’s pursuit and arrest protest leading activist Nasser Zefzafi last Friday after he interrupted a sermon.
Zefzafi was arrested on Monday and transferred to Casablanca for investigation. He has been charged with “obstructing the right of worship” and “undermining state security.”
The seven months of protests came following the October death of Mouhcine Fikri, a fishmonger who was crushed to death in a trash compactor while attempted to retrieve merchandise discarded by authorities.
