Moroccan Mayor Arrested for Urging Ramadan Curfew Violation Amid COVID-19 Restrictions

Mekki El Hannoudi had launched the call to violate the curfew on his Facebook page before deleting his post. "Inhabitants of the commune of Louta, as president of this locality and, therefore, in charge of the administrative police as stipulated by the law and the regulations in force, I authorize you to continue to circulate on my territory and go to the cafes for the breaking of the fast at 11 p.m.," he had written on April 7.

On Thursday, the public prosecutor announced that the public prosecutor’s office in Al Hoceïma had decided to open an investigation following this call. In a statement, it was explained that this decision followed "a publication relayed on social networks whose author authorizes the inhabitants to circulate at the level of the territory under the jurisdiction of the rural commune he presides over, and to frequent the cafes between the time of Iftar and until 11 p.m. during the month of Ramadan, after the competent authorities have decided to prohibit any night movement, nationwide, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., as part of the preventive measures taken to avoid the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, adopted on the occasion of the month of Ramadan."

On Saturday, the mayor of Louta was apprehended and then placed in custody at the gendarmerie headquarters in Imzouren. He faces one to three months in prison and a fine of 300 to 1,300 DH or one of these penalties only.