Moroccan Court Upholds Heavy Sentences for Rif Protesters, Human Rights Watch Condemns Decision

"This shocking appeal verdict, which maintains up to 20 years in prison for the Hirak protesters, is partly based on confessions tainted by suspicions of torture and coercion," said the director for the Middle East and North Africa at HRW, Sarah Leah Whitson, in a statement.

The Court of Appeal of Casablanca had to take into account "any evidence that appears to have been obtained by torture," deplored HRW, which had already strongly criticized the severe sentences handed down at first instance.

On Friday, the court had confirmed the sentences of 42 members of the Hirak, including Nasser Zefzafi and three other activists, sentenced to 20 years in prison for "conspiracy to undermine state security". Journalist Hamid el-Mahdaoui was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

In October 2016, the fish seller Mohsine Fikri had been crushed by a garbage truck, triggering demonstrations for several months throughout northern Morocco.