Morocco Politics | Human rights Morocco protests halted by police violence
Following the large, nation-wide protests one week ago, on 20 February and smaller protests yesterday, big pro-democracy manifestations were planned for today. However, contrary to one week ago, today's protests were mostly banned by local authorities and police in the last moment.
In Marrakech, where the 20 January protests had turned violent after police attacked the march, several key organisers of the protests have been arrested, according to Moroccan human rights sources. Police was heavily present at key crossroads, preventing protesters from gathering. In Agadir, where yesterday's peaceful demonstration was violently interrupted by police forces causing at least three injured, the situation has been calm today, with dissidents speaking of a "climate of fear." Equally in the Mediterranean port town of Al-Hoceima, were the 20 February protests had cost five lives and yesterday's manifestation was violently disrupted by police, the city today was reported by be "under siege" and calm. In Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, several thousand persons yesterday had gathered in a peaceful demonstration calling for democratic reforms. Today, the 20 February movement in Casablanca has denounced increased intimidation by the regime, following the arrest of at least 11 organisers in the city, according to French
Only in the capital, Rabat, a few thousand activists were allowed to gather in a peaceful protest. The protest had earlier today been banned by city authorities, but police so far has not acted against the manifestation. The Rabat protest included several leaders from the the Moroccan human rights association AMDH, which had been severely beaten by police in Rabat on 20 February. There are also unconfirmed reports of a larger protest march in the central city of Fez, with no reports of incidents so far. Moroccan media - neither state-controlled nor private - have not reported about yesterday's and today's protests. Also international media widely avoid mentioning the Moroccan protest movement. There have also been attempts to censor afrol News' coverage of the situation in Morocco. In other news, the Moroccan government today confirmed yet another death following the 20 February protests, bringing total up to six deaths. Close to 200 persons, almost exclusively protesters, have also been injured since the protest wave started in late January. By staff writers © afrol News - Create an e-mail alert for Morocco news - Create an e-mail alert for Politics news - Create an e-mail alert for Human rights news
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