Rabat – In the wake of a heart-wrenching intentional hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of a 23-year-old young man named Badr, Moroccans have launched an online campaign demanding justice and accountability for the tragic loss of life.
The incident, which took place on Sunday in Casablanca, saw the perpetrator intentionally assault and deliberately run over the victim, sparking outrage and sorrow throughout the country.
The unfortunate incident occurred when Badr, who was a Ph.D. student, and his friends were confronted with an unexpected assault at a parking lot owned by a fast-food restaurant in Ain Diab.
A video of the horrifying incident has circulated online, showing the moment a fight erupted between Badr and his friends and other individuals.
One of the individuals struck Badr in the head, rendering him unconscious. Moments later, and his friends were trying to assist him, another individual ran them over with his car and immediately fled the scene.
The online campaign, under the hashtag #JusticeForBadr, in Arabic, French, and English, has gone viral as countless Moroccans voiced their demand for authorities to bring justice to the victim’s grieving family.
Dimanche dernier au McDo Dawliz à Casa, Badr un jeune homme Doctorant agé de 23 ans a été assassiné lâchement par 4 gars qui l’ont tabassés puis ensuite lui ont roulé dessus 2 fois avec audi Q8. Le conducteur est un rappeur connu. إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون.#justicepourbadr pic.twitter.com/do9bZeO5iZ
— Bammou Fatima Zahra (@BammouZahra) August 1, 2023
The heartbreaking news of the young man’s death shocked the community, which remembered Badr as a young and brilliant researcher, a cherished friend, and a dedicated student.
Anas El-Attar, one of the victim’s colleagues at the research laboratory, said that he was known for his scientific contributions and work in harnessing hydroelectric energy for research.
“Badr’s contributions to the scientific world were celebrated internationally. His research findings were published in prestigious journals and presented at global conferences, including the esteemed ABCChem conference organized by the American Chemical Society,” his friend added.
Previous hit-and-run incidents
The young man’s tragic death has revealed a dark past to the suspect involved. According to online reports, the recent case involving Badr’s killing was not the first time that the main suspect has taken a life in a hit-and-run incident.
Disturbingly, it has come to light that the suspect has reportedly been involved in another case, where he ran over and killed two individuals. Due to his family’s financial influence, the suspect reportedly managed to evade accountability for his actions.
This shocking pattern of impunity has only intensified the demand for a thorough investigation so that the guilty parties face the consequence of their actions in the three murder incidents.
Local authorities, particularly the Judicial Police in Casablanca, have worked in collaboration with their counterparts in Laayoune to bring the suspects to justice.
Thanks to information provided by the General Directorate of National Territory Surveillance, the investigators were able to track down the main suspect’s location in Laayoune, leading to his eventual arrest, said the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) on Monday.
Read also: #JusticeForHamza: Badly Burnt Body of ENCG Student Found in a Moroccan Forest
During the course of the investigation, a vehicle used in committing the crime was identified and recovered, according to DGSN.
The suspect’s brother-in-law has also been implicated as an accessory to murder and taken into provisional custody alongside the primary suspect.
Judicial authorities, with the oversight of the relevant public prosecutor’s office, are conducting an extensive investigation to shed more light on the incident.
According to Moroccan outlet Le360, a total of five individuals who were allegedly involved in the young man’s death were arrested and brought before the Attorney General at the Casablanca Court of Appeal yesterday morning.
The five suspects are facing charges of forming a criminal gang, intentional homicide, attempted intentional homicide, and theft, added the outlet.
