Rabat — Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH) has expressed deep concern over the violent conclusion of a prolonged sit-in protest on top of a water tower in Douar Oulad Abou within the Beni Mellal region.
The incident, which took place on Friday, ended with severe injuries to a civil protection officer, gendarme and the protestor himself.
The protester violently attacked the civil defense officer before throwing him off the water tower, and further threatened the gendarme who was trying to deescalate the situation.
Once surrounded, he then jumped from the tower with a rope around his neck, but fell into a shock absorbing rubber device that was placed as a safety net.
In a statement on Facebook, the CNDH wished all three a speedy recovery.
‘Not everything that gets filmed should be published’
The CNDH further commended the local authorities for their cooperation but expressed disappointment at the outcome.
The council strongly criticized the widespread sharing of disturbing videos from the incident on social media, asserting that people filmed and and broadcasted the events live without warnings or consideration for the dignity of those involved or their families.
“Not everything that gets filmed should be published,” the statement read, adding that cameras “can transform from a documentation tool into an instrument that violates human dignity.”
The council called for better media ethics and digital responsibility, warning that such content can normalize violence and cause widespread suffering.
It stressed that professional journalism requires ethical standards and proper warnings when covering sensitive events.
The CNDH concluded that freedom to publish does not mean sharing shocking content without ethical responsibility.
Beni Mellal regional human rights commission monitored the situation daily throughout the protest.
The statement said that officials met with the protester multiple times and provided him with food and water while trying to convince him to end the dangerous demonstration. Youssef was reportedly demanding that authorities reopen the investigation into his father’s death in 2019.
The commission arranged meetings with the regional governor and the public prosecutor, who agreed to review the case under judicial procedures.
The protester initially agreed to end his protest after receiving guarantees from officials.
However, he later changed his mind and continued the sit-in, despite pleas from his mother and sister, who asked the commission to intervene.
