Rabat – King Mohammed VI summoned leaders of Moroccan political parties to the Royal Palace for a special meeting, according to news outlet Alyaoum24.
Sources quoted by Moroccan newspaper Alyaoum24 reported that the king summoned the heads of Morocco’s political parties to an impromptu meeting today in Rabat to discuss the now seven-month-old Hirak movement. Many have called for the King’s intervention to put an end to the ongoing and escalating protests regarding conditions in the Rif region.
The information has not been confirmed by official sources, and Morocco World News could not independently verify the veracity of these reports.
On Wednesday, the coalition government broke its silence and issued a communiqué, acknowledging the demonstrators’ rights to protest regarding “legitimate” social demands.
“The majority parties of the government have again emphasized the right of protests to express legitimate social demands in accordance with legal procedures,” said the coalition following a meeting with the Head of Government, Saad Eddine Othmani, and Minister of State in charge of Human Rights, Mustapha Ramid.
Just a few days ago, the mother of leading activist Nasser Zafzafi implored King Mohammed VI to release her son, arrested by police on May 29. “We’re simple people, we have nothing, we own nothing, and our children are unemployed. We just want the King to serve us justice.”
The seven months of protests came following the death in October of Mouhcine Fikri, a fishmonger who was fatally crushed in a garbage truck trash compactor while attempting to retrieve merchandise confiscated and thrown away by authorities.
The coalition government has been criticized for its insufficient response to the tensions in Al Hoceima. After having been accused of receiving foreign backing and “drifting towards separatism,” outraged protesters staged a large-scale march denying the charges and reiterating their demands for social and economic development.
Last week, a high ministerial delegation led by Minister of Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, traveled to Al Hoceima to “speed up development programs.”
However, tensions have grown over the past few days following the police’s pursuit and arrest of Nasser Zafzafi.
Zafzafi was taken into custody on Monday after interrupting a Friday sermon that he viewed as denouncing the “Harak” movement. He was subsequently transferred to Casablanca for investigation, and has since been charged with “obstructing the right of worship” and “undermining state security.”
Zafzafi, along with 30 other protesters arrested for alleged violence against security forces in Al Hoceima, are reportedly expected to appear in court on Monday at Casablanca’s Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal.
Edited by Elisabeth Myers
