Morocco Sentences 17 Protesters to Prison in Jerada Unrest Crackdown

Quoted by AFP, their lawyer Abdelhak Benkada indicated that his clients were sentenced to sentences ranging from 2 to 4 years in prison for clashes that occurred in March 2018 during a banned demonstration by the authorities, during which 312 law enforcement officers were injured as well as 32 protesters.

The accused were prosecuted for "destruction of public property, incitement to commit crimes and offenses" and "participation in an unauthorized demonstration," their lawyer said, adding that three defendants were in prison on the day of the demonstration.

This demonstration, which took place on March 19, was intended to protest the arrest of several people, in addition to demanding that the government fight the poverty of this region affected by the economic crisis since the closure of the mines.