Morocco Cracks Down: GenZ Protesters Face 20-Year Sentences

In an official statement, the presidency of the public prosecutor’s office announces that the competent public prosecutor’s offices will use all available legal means to obtain exemplary sentences against the perpetrators of criminal acts committed during these demonstrations. This statement follows the violence recorded in recent days in several cities of the kingdom. The institution calls for the utmost firmness in the handling of these offenses.

Zakaria Laaroussi, a magistrate and head of the unit for monitoring the execution of repressive measures and judicial decisions within the presidency of the public prosecutor’s office, revealed that 193 suspects have been prosecuted for acts of violence, destruction and incitement that occurred during these unauthorized demonstrations that degenerated on September 30 in several cities of the kingdom.

The assessment made by the Ministry of the Interior in a press release reports 263 injured law enforcement officers, 23 affected civilians, and 409 people placed in custody, not to mention the numerous material damages. While condemning these excesses, the authorities are committed to acting firmly while respecting public rights and freedoms.

Acts of sabotage, arson or violence can be punished by sentences of up to 20 years in prison. In certain aggravating circumstances, the perpetrators even risk life imprisonment, recalls the presidency of the public prosecutor’s office, which intends to act with the utmost rigor against these acts, in accordance with the expectations of citizens in terms of security and justice.