Marrakech – Amnesty International has called for an immediate independent investigation into Morocco’s violent response to youth-led protests, with the organization reporting at least three protesters killed, dozens injured, and more than 400 arrested since late September.
The protests began peacefully, but authorities responded with high-handed force and mass arbitrary arrests, according to Amnesty. Video footage reviewed by the rights group shows security forces deliberately driving vehicles at protesters on September 30. Eyewitnesses described forceful arrests of peaceful demonstrators.
“We are deeply alarmed by emerging evidence of Moroccan security forces’ use of excessive force and mass arrests of protesters and bystanders,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. She stressed that authorities must ensure transparent investigations into the deaths and protect the right to peaceful protest.
Amnesty documented security forces, sometimes in civilian clothes, forcibly arresting peaceful protesters on September 28 and 29. One protester cited by the rights-monitoring body described seeing a girl sitting on the ground get violently shoved into a police van despite doing nothing wrong.
Another witness from Casablanca said police specifically targeted anyone speaking to the media, rushing to arrest a person mid-interview with journalists.
The organization condemned security forces for driving vehicles directly into protesters in Oujda on the night between September 30 and October 1, causing at least one serious injury. Such actions violate international human rights standards, including the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms, Amnesty stated.
Official figures show 409 people arrested since September 28, with at least 193 facing trial. Many face charges under Article 591 of the Moroccan Penal Code for participation in violent gatherings, despite being arrested on September 28 and 29 before any violence occurred.
“The Moroccan authorities must immediately drop charges against anyone detained solely for exercising their right of peaceful assembly,” Morayef said. She added that rather than suppression, the government should address legitimate youth demands for better education, healthcare, employment, transparency, and anti-corruption measures.
Peaceful protests spiraled rapidly into violent unrest
The protests erupted across Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakech, Tangier, Sale, Oujda, and Rabat. The Gen Z 212 movement organized demonstrations through social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and Discord. Protesters expressed frustration over failing public services, high unemployment, corruption, and vast spending on the 2030 World Cup.
Violence escalated on September 30 and October 1 when clashes intensified, vehicles were set on fire, and security forces used tear gas, rubber bullets, and lethal ammunition. Three people died Wednesday night, killed by gunfire during an attack on a gendarmerie post in Lqliâa near Agadir. Authorities said gendarmes acted in self-defense as attackers tried to seize weapons and munitions.
Morocco’s Interior Ministry reported Thursday that 354 people were injured, including 326 security force members. The clashes damaged 271 police vehicles and 175 private cars across 23 districts and provinces.
Approximately 80 administrative, healthcare, security, and municipal buildings were vandalized, along with bank branches and commercial establishments. Nearly 70% of those involved in violent acts were minors, some carrying knives.
Youth appeal to King, distrust institutions deeply
Gen Z 212 directly addressed King Mohammed VI in a public statement released on Friday, calling for sweeping political reform and government accountability.
The group presented eight demands grounded in constitutional articles, including dismissal of Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch’s government, judicial proceedings against corruption, protection of freedom of expression, and release of detainees linked to peaceful protests.
The collective stressed they lost faith in government, parliament, and political parties. “Our message is the will of a new generation that refuses to remain trapped in cycles of corruption and failures,” their statement read. They distanced themselves from violent incidents, stressing commitment to peaceful protest.
The group called for demonstrations on Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time. “We reaffirm that these manifestations will be entirely peaceful and reject any form of violence, émeute, or destruction of public and private property,” Gen Z 212 wrote on Discord, which now has nearly 170,000 members. They asked protesters to wear black in mourning for the injured and dead.
The European Union called on Friday for “all stakeholders to maintain calm” in Morocco. Commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni recognized “the importance of youth participation in public life” and welcomed “the openness to dialogue expressed by Moroccan authorities.”
Brussels expressed condolences to the victims’ families and reaffirmed its willingness to strengthen initiatives for the socio-economic inclusion of Moroccan youth.
Akhannouch spoke Thursday for the first time since protests began, reading a brief statement at the Council of Ministers assuring the executive is “willing to dialogue.” Gen Z 212’s letter to the King appeared as a sharp response to that intervention.
The protests follow demonstrations in mid-September after eight pregnant women died at Agadir’s public hospital following cesarean sections. The collective describes itself as “free youth” without political affiliation.
Their main demands focus on improved healthcare access, strengthened education, job creation, and better living conditions. Protesters repeatedly chanted “We want hospitals, not just stadiums,” criticizing infrastructure spending on the 2030 World Cup while social services deteriorate.
Read also: Gen Z Protests: Transparency Maroc Demands Release of Peaceful Demonstrators
