Hirak Leader Zefzafi Condemns Flag Desecration at Paris Protest

The leader of the popular Hirak protest in Al Hoceima has joined his voice to those of many other Moroccans who condemned the incident that occurred in Paris.

During this demonstration organized on the occasion of the third anniversary of the death of Mohcine Fikri, a fish merchant whose death was the origin of the social protest movement in the Rif, Rif separatists trampled and burned a Moroccan flag.

In an audio recording that was released on Thursday, Zefzafi denounced the individuals who committed this offense. For the Hirak leader, sentenced to 20 years in prison, they are nothing more than "stupid" and "hypocritical".

Immediately after this incident, the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) reacted strongly. For the officials, the burning of the flag is "cowardly" and "childish", and constitutes a criminal act that has nothing to do with freedom of expression.

Last Monday, the deputies unanimously condemned this unpatriotic act, singing the national anthem at the beginning of the monthly session devoted to general policy.