Morocco Protests : Call for Government Resignation Following Brutal Suppression of Protests

RABAT – A collective of young Moroccans, who initiated protests against the socio-economic situation and corruption in the country, has called for the resignation of the government after a sixth consecutive night of demonstrations marked by brutal repression that resulted in at least three fatalities, according to several media reports.

“We demand the dissolution of the current government for its failure to protect the constitutional rights of Moroccans and to address their social demands,” the collective stated in a communiqué addressed to the royal palace. They also called for the initiation of a “fair judicial process to hold accountable those responsible for corruption.”

The protests, which began last Saturday, continued on Thursday in several Moroccan cities, highlighting the urgent need for improved public services in health and education, the guarantee of social justice, and a concerted effort to combat the corruption that pervades Moroccan institutions.

In light of the brutal repression faced by demonstrators at the hands of Makhzen agents, which resulted in three deaths and hundreds of injuries, several human rights organizations and activists in Morocco have called for accountability for those responsible for the killings and for the protection of Moroccans’ constitutional rights to peaceful protest and demonstration.