Rif Separatists Burn Moroccan Flag, King’s Photos at French Castle Protest

Videos and photos posted on social media show a group of less than 20 men, aged between 30 and 40, who were demonstrating in front of King Mohammed VI’s castle in Betz. These Rif separatists burned and trampled the Moroccan flag as well as photos of King Mohammed VI. The demonstration was part of the anniversary of the events of January 19, 1984 (protest of thousands of Moroccans against the high cost of living, NDRL).

Holding the flags of the "Rif Republic", the protesters chanted the slogan "Long live the Rif". The publication of the videos and photos of the demonstration provoked the anger and indignation of Internet users. Many of them condemned the act of these Moroccans. "He who sells his country has nothing good in him," reacted some Facebook users.

A similar demonstration had taken place on October 26, 2019, on the anniversary of the death of the fishmonger Mouhcine Fikri. As he tried to recover 500 kg of swordfish confiscated by a policeman, he was crushed to death by a garbage truck. His death had sparked a wave of outrage and popular demonstrations in Al-Hoceima, in the Rif region.

The protesters had burned the Moroccan flag and carried the flags of the Rif and the Amazigh (Berber) during the Paris demonstration. Morocco had expressed its outrage at the attitude of these Rif separatists. For its part, the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad had, in a statement, condemned a "childish" and "cowardly" act.