Moroccan Curfew Violations Surge During Ramadan, Sparking Clashes

These are mainly owners and customers of cafes, or demonstrators calling for the reopening of mosques. According to the daily Assabah, during the interventions of the security forces, clashes were recorded in Tangier, Inezgane, Salé and Sidi Bennour, where rioters were arrested and brought before the courts.

This is the case in Nador where several individuals were brought on Monday, April 19, before the public prosecutor at the court of first instance. The police carried out a raid in a shisha cafe where 38 customers, the owner, the manager and the waiter were arrested.

In Marrakech, 14 people were arrested and more than 30 others fined by the security forces in the El Fadl and Tasseltant neighborhoods. Tangier also led a rebellion against the state of health emergency and the curfew with the opening of two cafes and a protest march in the Beni Mekada district. The protesters opposed to the closure of the mosques have initiated radical movements. Stones were thrown at the security forces who made several arrests.

In Inezgane, some extremists incited minors to take to the streets to confront the security forces with stone throwing. They burned car tires and damaged public and private property. Forty people were arrested among the rioters.

In Sidi Bennour and Salé and in some neighborhoods of Casablanca, the atmosphere is the same. However, violations of the curfew are more peaceful, even if there is a total disregard for barrier gestures in crowded places such as markets and public transport.