Morocco Arrests Over 500 for COVID-19 Misinformation and Emergency Violations

Speaking to the press, the Secretary General of the Presidency of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Hicham Balaoui, announced the arrest of 450 people for violating the state of health emergency since the entry into force of the decree-law of March 24.

Earlier this week, the Presidency of the Public Prosecutor’s Office had called for firmness in the application of Decree-Law No. 2.20.292 on the provisions relating to the state of health emergency and the procedures for its declaration.

The text published in the Official Bulletin No. 6867 bis as part of the urgent preventive measures adopted by the public authorities, in accordance with Article 21 of the Constitution, aims to guarantee the health and safety of the population while respecting the rights and freedoms guaranteed to citizens. It also allows the government to take exceptional economic, financial, social or environmental measures that may directly contribute to addressing the negative effects of the declared state of emergency.

Furthermore, any person who violates the directives of the state of emergency is liable in particular to a sentence of one to three months’ imprisonment accompanied by a fine of 300 to 1,300 DH or one of the two penalties, without prejudice to the most severe sanction.