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Join on Telegram Rabat – A Moroccan court of appeal decided today to increase the duration of the prison sentence it previously handed the activist Said Ait Mahdi to one year.
The court has also changed its initial verdict of the other three members of the Al Haouz Earthquake Victims Coalition, previously acquitted, to sentence them to three months in prison with charges of insulting public officials.
On January 13, the court handed Said Ait Mahdi, who leads the organization, three months in prison. It also ordered Ait Mahdi to pay MAD 10,000 ($1000) in damages to each civil party involved.
The activist was charged with defamation and publishing false claims that violated privacy, mainly while criticizing local authorities’ handling of earthquake recovery efforts in the Marrakech region.
The case goes back to the aftermath of the devastating 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Marrakech in September 2023.
The state has proven its swift response to the natural disaster and responded quickly to the needs of the population in the region.
The devastating earthquake in Morocco resulted in massive loss of life and property, with nearly 3,000 fatalities, over 5,600 injuries, and approximately 60,000 homes destroyed, particularly in the High Atlas mountain region.
Many survivors were forced to live in temporary tent accommodations for an extended period.
The Al Haouz province, located near Marrakech, experienced the most severe destruction. Local organizations like Ait Mahdi’s have been advocating for accelerated reconstruction and increased support for affected families.
By early December 2024, Moroccan authorities had issued 57,000 reconstruction permits, with official reports indicating that over 35,000 homes were either completed or in the process of being rebuilt.
Read also: Report : Al Haouz Earthquake Shook the Nation’s Sense of Preparedness
The government has been proactive in its response, allocating approximately MAD 140,000(equivalent to $14,000) per family to assist in home reconstruction.
However, challenges have emerged during the recovery process. The Ministry of Interior disclosed in January that more than 27 individuals were victims of fraud committed by various construction contractors.
To manage the reconstruction efforts, an inter-ministerial committee has been established to oversee rehabilitation and rebuilding processes.
Financial support has been widespread, with 63,766 families receiving monthly financial assistance.
Additionally, the government has committed over MAD 800 million (approximately $79.29 million) to improve and expand healthcare facilities in the earthquake-affected areas.
