Rabat – The National Human Rights Council (CNDH), chaired by Amina Bouayach, held a high-level meeting on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, with heads of regional human rights committees and council officials. The meeting focused on strategies to strengthen monitoring and response efforts amid recent youth protests across several Moroccan cities.
Since the protests began, the CNDH has deployed teams at national, regional, and digital levels to observe events, interact with local authorities, and engage with youth participants at protest sites. The council highlighted the importance of the digital space as a platform for peaceful expression and civic engagement.
In its preliminary observations, the CNDH noted that the demonstrations, initially peaceful, were overtaken by rioters, instigating of violence, including property damage, rock-throwing, theft, and vehicle arson.
The council stressed that the right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental achievement of Morocco’s democratic and human rights framework and called on both protesters and authorities to respect public order while ensuring this right.
The council also highlighted concerning digital activity, including the spread of misleading content, calls for violence, and threats against government institutions and officials. Many of these accounts appeared to be new, closed, or foreign-based, sometimes targeting those who advocate for peaceful participation.
CNDH reaffirmed key human rights principles, emphasizing the constitutional right to freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly, while noting that these rights do not permit violent actions. The council reiterated that large-scale or dangerous violence is incompatible with legitimate protest.
During its monitoring on October 1, the council documented peaceful demonstrations in several cities, though some included the participation of minors and incidents of serious violence in locations including Sale, Errachidia, Dakhla, Taroudant, Inzegane (Leqliaa), and Rabat.
The CNDH expressed deep regret over the death of three individuals in Leqliaa and injuries sustained by protesters and security forces throughout the demonstrations.
The council welcomed the release of many detained protesters and condemned the attack and arson at the Leqliaa gendarmerie post, especially given that families reside in the building. It called for thorough investigations into all cases involving threats to life or physical safety and confirmed that it will continue to monitor protests, field interventions, and related court proceedings.
CNDH extended condolences to the families of the three deceased and reiterated its openness to dialogue and engagement to ensure the effective exercise of rights and freedoms for all Moroccan citizens.
