Moroccans outraged over corruption, abuse

People have rallied in Morocco’s capital, Rabat, and in other northern cities to show support for a weeks-long campaign against corruption and official abuses in the north.

People demonstrated on Sunday, carrying the portraits of detained activists and chanting slogans against what they described as the “ruling mafia.”

Some chanted, “Your corruption is starting to stink.”

“We are here for dignity, equality, social justice,” said one of the protesters.

“We came out to protest about the social reality in Morocco,” said another, adding “We’re here in solidarity with al-Hoceima, to demand dignity,” referring to the city that has been the site of many demonstrations in recent weeks.

The rally in the capital, which ran from Rabat’s Bab El Hed area toward the parliament, had been organized by the Adl Wal Ihsan (Justice and Spirituality) movement of Morocco.

The demonstration in the North African country’s capital, where political unrest is rare, was one of the largest of its kind in several years.

Elsewhere, protesters also rallied in al-Hoceima and the nearby town of Imzouren.

Al-Hoceima has been shaken by protests since the death of a fish vendor named Mouhcine Fikri there in October 2016. He was crushed inside a garbage compactor while trying to salvage his fish, which had been confiscated by officials.

The northern Rif region has long been a hotbed of anti-government dissent.

A leader of the protesters, Nasser Zefzafi, as well as other activists, has been taken into custody on charges of threatening national security.

SS