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Join on Telegram Rabat – Moroccan politician Omar Balafrej has condemned the arrest of social protesters in Jerada, the home of demonstrations since December.
In an interview with Moroccan news outlet Al Yaoum 24, Balafrej said that that the “barons,” who have been exploiting the coal wells–referring to the parliamentarians and council authorities– “are the ones who should be held accountable and arrested, instead of protesters who marched in the streets” in peaceful demonstrations.
Balafrej told the news source that he visited the mine shafts to observe the conditions under which miners are working.
“It is as if we were in the 19th century,” he said.
The member of the parliament told French news Agency AFP that “there are huge problems in this region,” adding that “it is a duty to come here and get to know this town.”
Jerada’s protests started after the death of four local miners in old mine shafts.
The situation in the eastern region escalated following a clash between law enforcement and protesters on Wednesday, resulting in several injuries among security forces.
On Friday, another round of demonstrations broke out across Jerada province.
The Ministry of Interior released a statement on March 13, announcing its decision to ban unauthorized sit-ins and protests. However, the statement did not deter demonstrators’ willingness to rally in the streets and decry social disparities that led many people risk their lives in abandoned mine shafts.
