Doha – A Casablanca court sentenced Ismail Ghazaoui, a 34-year-old agronomist engineer and BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) activist, to one year in prison on December 10, on charges of “inciting crimes and offenses” following his participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and criticism of Morocco’s ties with Israel.

The case against Ghazaoui originated on October 25, when he responded to an anonymous social media call to protest at the US Consulate in Casablanca against what demonstrators termed “American support for genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.”

Under Article 299-1 of the Moroccan Penal Code, individuals who directly incite one or more persons to commit a felony or misdemeanor face imprisonment from three months to one year and a fine ranging from MAD 5,000 ($500) to MAD 50,000 ($5,000). Individuals face only one of these penalties if the incitement has no subsequent effect.

This applies to incitement through speeches, shouting, or threats made in public places and gatherings, posters displayed in public view, or any means that fulfills the condition of publicity, including electronic, print, and audiovisual media.

According to BDS Morocco’s detailed account, Ghazaoui was intercepted en route to the consulate by plainclothes police officers, allegedly faced physical assault including being slapped in the face, and was briefly detained by what was believed to be the National Judicial Police Brigade’s political cases unit before being released.

The situation escalated on November 19, when Ghazaoui was summoned to appear before the National Brigade of Judicial Police (BNPJ) in Casablanca. Following questioning, he was placed in preliminary detention for 48 hours.

On November 21, he appeared before the Crown Prosecutor at the First Instance Court of Ain Sebaa, Casablanca, where his defense team’s request for provisional release was rejected.

During a hearing on November 26, the court scheduled a new date to examine the charges against Ghazaoui. His defense team renewed their request for provisional release, which was rejected for the second time.

The court adjourned the case to December 3, before ultimately delivering the one-year prison sentence on December 10.

‘A dedicated activist’

The BDS movement describes Ghazaoui as a dedicated activist who was “consistently present on the front lines, participating in demonstrations and marches, determined to voice his rejection of normalization with the occupying state,” referring to Israel.

They note his commitment to the global call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel, and his efforts to warn Moroccan authorities about what he saw as complicity in facilitating military equipment transfers to what the movement terms “the Zionist occupation army.”

BDS Morocco strongly condemned the arrest, calling it a “flagrant violation of freedom of expression” and “a shameful attempt to silence free voices in Morocco.”

The organization characterized the legal action as “a criminalization of the humanitarian duty to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”

Recent reports by BDS Morocco have noted concerns about the Tangier Med port’s alleged role in facilitating military equipment shipments to Israel, with the organization documenting several vessels that they claim are part of this supply chain.

The sentencing follows a pattern of similar cases. In a related incident earlier this year, Abderrahmane Zankad, a member of Al Adl Wal Ihsane, received a five-year prison sentence in April for “offense to the king” after criticizing normalization with Israel on social media.

During his nine-day detention prior to sentencing, Ghazaoui was reportedly denied visitation rights and basic personal necessities, according to BDS Morocco’s statements.

The case has sparked solidarity demonstrations, with human rights organizations, civil society groups, and political entities organizing protests demanding his release and an end to what they describe as political arrests targeting “anti-normalization activists” in Morocco.