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Doha – Tensions reached a boiling point as Moroccan authorities forcefully dispersed a peaceful sit-in by medical students outside the Faculty of Medicine in Rabat on Wednesday, September 25.
The heavy-handed response has sent shockwaves through the medical community and beyond, igniting a firestorm of criticism from various organizations.
The National Commission of Medical, Pharmacy, and Dental Students in Morocco reported that approximately 15 students were arrested during the crackdown.
The commission vehemently condemned what they described as a “brutal assault” on the students and their parents, demanding an official apology from the government and the immediate release of all detained individuals.
In a strongly worded statement, the commission ironically declared, “These sad scenes experienced by future doctors show the extent of the government’s concern for human resources and its tireless work to create attractiveness to solve the migration problem, encourage trust in institutions, as well as its great seriousness in working to find a solution to the crisis, as we have always known it to do throughout these ten months of open strike.”
They further said that violence is not a means of negotiation and reiterated their commitment to peaceful forms of protest.
The commission called for an immediate end to what they termed the “bleeding of public medical schools” and urged the government to abandon its “failed policy” that has not produced a solution for nearly a year.
They announced plans for protest stands at all university hospitals on Thursday, September 26, “in condemnation of the abuse and humiliation suffered by future doctors.” The commission also called on new first-year students to join the strike and announced general assemblies for seventh-year students to discuss boycotting the appointment session.
The professors at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Casablanca, represented by the local office of the National Union for Higher Education, expressed deep regret over the situation. In their statement, they condemned the violent intervention against the students and warned that the security approach would only further complicate the situation.
They called for defusing the crisis by reinstating suspended students and reversing the decision to dissolve student council offices. The union also emphasized the need for a participatory approach in reforming medical studies, involving all university sites.
The student office at the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Casablanca issued a scathing statement, describing the crackdown as “a repressive intervention that will remain an unforgettable mark of shame.” They pointedly asked, “Who is responsible for adopting the ‘bone-breaking’ approach in dealing with the future doctors’ file?”
The statement continued with a vivid description of the violence: “How can we, in today’s Morocco, accept or become accustomed to what camera lenses capture of arbitrary arrests, trampling with shoes, and the use of batons on the backs of future doctors and physicians? What a disgrace!”
They further said that “Violating the dignity and humanity of the student body will only increase their courage and determination, and will only strengthen their resolve.” The students asserted that this repression would push them further “on the path of serious, patient, and ambitious struggle,” vowing to continue pressing for their “legitimate demands.”
The Student Progress and Socialism Sector also issued a strong statement, describing the crackdown as “a flagrant violation of the constitutional foundations, especially those related to freedom of expression and peaceful protest.” They called for an investigation into the circumstances of this “violent security intervention” and expressed full solidarity with the medical students in Rabat.
The National Commission of Interns and Residents (CNIR) announced nationwide solidarity stands at various university hospitals on September 26 at 2:00 p.m. In their statement, they asserted, “Attacking the freedom of expression and peaceful demonstration is an attack on all doctors and students and everyone who believes in the principles of justice and dignity.”
The office of medical and pharmacy students in Marrakech also voiced their support, announcing a local warning sit-in on Friday at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Marrakech. They reaffirmed their commitment to their “fair and legitimate demands” and denounced the “repressive policy” used against peaceful student struggle.
These statements represent just a sample of the widespread condemnation and solidarity expressed by various medical and student organizations across Morocco.
The current crisis stems from a prolonged strike by medical students which has lasted for nearly ten months. The students have been protesting against ministerial and governmental decisions that they claim threaten their academic and professional future.
Their demands include improving the quality of public medical training, addressing issues related to hospital internships, and concerns about the national selective exam for foreign degree holders.
Negotiations between the students and the government have been ongoing, with the Office of the Ombudsman of the Kingdom playing a mediating role. While pharmacy students recently agreed to end their boycott following a mediation effort, medical students have yet to reach an agreement.
In a related development, the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation announced today that it would be taking measures to restore normal operations at the Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy.
This includes canceling the “zero” grade for students who did not take exams during the strike period and replacing it with grades obtained in exceptional exam sessions to be held before the end of November. The ministry also announced plans to review disciplinary actions taken against pharmacy students related to the protest events.
As tensions continue to escalate, the medical education community in Morocco finds itself at a crossroads — with students, faculty, and government officials grappling with the complex issues surrounding the future of medical education in the country.
Read also: Sit-In Chaos: Police Crackdown on Rabat Medical Students’ Protest
