More than 25 human rights groups and political organizations from the Maghreb and Europe have condemned the intensifying repression in Morocco, denouncing the government’s use of the judiciary and security forces to suppress opposition voices. In a joint statement, the groups demanded the immediate release of political prisoners, especially those involved in the Rif protests, along with human rights activists, bloggers, and all individuals imprisoned for exercising their right to free expression.
The statement expressed deep concern about the increasing frequency of arbitrary legal actions targeting critics of the Moroccan government. It highlighted the systematic repression against political opponents, rights activists, journalists, and social media users, calling it a clear violation of internationally recognized human rights.
Among the cases mentioned, the statement pointed to the six-month prison sentence given to Fouad Abdelmoumeni, head of the Moroccan Association for the Support of Political Prisoners, simply for a social media post. It also raised alarm about the extended sentence for activist Said Ait Mehdi, whose punishment was increased from three months to a year, and the ongoing detention of bloggers Redouane Casteet and Mohamed Boustati for their anti-normalization views. Furthermore, the arrest of 13-year-old Malak Al-Tahiri and her family was mentioned, just for being linked to Hicham Gerando, the creator of an anti-corruption YouTube channel that has been targeted by the Moroccan authorities.
The organizations warned that these politically motivated trials are an open attempt to silence free voices and to diminish the significance of political and human rights movements. They stressed that these repressive policies hinder the country’s progress and block Morocco’s path toward a true democratic transition. The groups called for an end to arbitrary legal actions against human rights defenders and political dissenters, urging the Moroccan government to guarantee freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and respect for human rights as outlined in international treaties.
The statement concluded by emphasizing that continuing these policies would only deepen Morocco’s political and human rights crisis. It called for the government to stop using the judiciary and security forces to suppress opposition and work toward building a state that respects its citizens’ rights and ensures their dignity and freedom.
Notable Signatories of the Statement:
- Euro-Mediterranean Center for Migration and Development (Netherlands)
- Moroccan Workers’ Association (Netherlands)
- Moroccan Human Rights Association (Morocco)
- Unified Socialist Party (Netherlands)
- Democratic Labor Path Party (Western Europe)
- Democratic Left Federation (France)
- Moroccan Human Rights Initiative (Netherlands)
- Haratine Association in Europe (Mauritania)
- Maghreb Workers’ Association (France)
- Mediterranean Peoples’ Solidarity Coordination (Spain)
- Rifis Coalition of Europe
APS
