AMDH Reports Over 2,000 Arrests Following Gen Z Protests

Rabat — The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) presented on Thursday in Rabat a preliminary report on the recent “Gen Z protests” that erupted in several Moroccan cities, revealing that more than 2,000 people have been detained nationwide.

According to the association, a total of 2,068 individuals have been arrested and prosecuted in connection with the demonstrations, of whom 1,088 remain in custody, 596 have been released, and 233 have already received judicial sentences. These figures remain preliminary as arrests continue in various regions, AMDH stressed.

The association stated that authorities are still detaining individuals based on videos circulating on social media or information gathered by security services on the ground.

AMDH’s report detailed a wide range of judicial sentences, including four of 15 years in prison, one of 12 years, 31 of 10 years, three of 6 years, and two of 5 years, in addition to hundreds of shorter sentences ranging between one and three years. The association noted that several of these rulings involved minors, particularly in the northern city of Al Hoceima.

“This rapid issuance of harsh sentences is a message of intimidation to protesters and an attempt to halt demonstrations in line with the adopted security approach,” AMDH said in its statement.

The organization expressed deep concern about the ongoing prosecution of over 330 minors, some of whom were interrogated without the presence of their guardians, calling it a “clear violation of children’s rights protected by law.” While several minors have been released and returned to their families, others continue to face serious criminal charges.

The report provided details on arrests and prosecutions across several cities. In Rabat, 192 arrests were recorded, while Temara saw 95 arrests, including nine individuals — among them a young woman — who received one-year prison sentences.

Five cases were reported in Zagora, with one person still in custody. In Berkane, 51 individuals were arrested, 11 of whom were prosecuted in custody. Three young men received prison sentences — two for two years and one for a year and a half — while 15 minors were referred to social care institutions.

In Casablanca, 80 people were arrested, including 44 prosecuted in custody. AMDH said some detainees were linked to highway incidents “even after proving they were not present at the scene.”

The report also raised concerns over violations of fair trial standards. AMDH stated that many detainees were presented before the public prosecutor only after the end of police custody, “often in difficult conditions,” and that numerous defendants lacked legal representation.

The association said some families were not informed of their relatives’ arrests until several days later, adding that allegations of torture or ill-treatment had not been independently investigated.

AMDH held the Moroccan state fully responsible for the events and the resulting violence, urging independent and impartial investigations to determine accountability. The association also claimed that some defendants were prosecuted despite evidence showing they were not present at protest sites, which it said “undermines the principles of a fair trial.”

In its conclusion, the association called on authorities to respect fundamental rights and freedoms, including the rights to assembly, expression, and peaceful protest, as guaranteed by both Moroccan law and international conventions.

AMDH demanded the release of all detainees arrested in connection with peaceful demonstrations, including those from the Rif Movement, and urged the government to ensure fair trials in accordance with international standards.