Rabat: The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) has released preliminary findings and recommendations regarding recent protests in several Moroccan cities. From the onset of the protest calls, the CNDH deployed teams for observation and monitoring on the ground and digital platforms. These efforts were conducted at three main levels: regional, national, and digital, in addition to direct communication with local authorities and young people at protest sites.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the Council acknowledged the digital space as a new field for expressing freedoms and engaging youth in peaceful expressions of their fundamental rights. The youth protests initially began peacefully following calls for demonstrations, but some were later marred by acts of violence, including inappropriate interventions, stone throwing, looting, car fires, and destruction of property. The CNDH emphasized the importance of guaranteeing the right to peaceful assembly and the shared responsibility of demonstrators and public authorities to maintain public order while ensuring freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
The Council highlighted the need for a human rights-based interpretation of the right to peaceful assembly, regardless of authorization or notification. It emphasized preserving the peaceful nature of gatherings, especially considering the unique forms of digital expression emerging in the current context. The CNDH advocated for protecting citizens’ rights to protest peacefully and strengthening protections against violence that could harm both protesters and law enforcement.
As part of its digital space monitoring, the CNDH identified online expressions involving misinformation, incitement to violence, and threats targeting officials’ residences. Many accounts involved in these activities were either recently created, deactivated, or of foreign origin. The Council reiterated the universal and constitutional nature of the right to freedom of expression, emphasizing its role as a fundamental norm underpinning other human rights.
The CNDH reaffirmed that the right to peaceful assembly is enshrined in the Moroccan Constitution and is a cornerstone of participation, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and pluralism. The Council noted that peaceful assembly is inherently different from violent gatherings, and exercising this right through violence is strictly prohibited.
The CNDH continued to monitor the situation on the evening of October 1st, reporting peaceful demonstrations in several cities, including Sal©, Errachidia, Dakhla, Taroudant (Leqliaa), and Rabat. Some demonstrations involved significant participation by minors and were marred by serious violence. The Council expressed regret over the deaths of three individuals in Leqliaa and the injuries sustained by protesters and law enforcement. It acknowledged statements regarding the circumstances of these deaths and welcomed the release of a large number of protesters.
The Council condemned attempts to storm and set fire to the Royal Gendarmerie center in Leqliaa and stressed the need for investigations into violations of the right to life or physical integrity. The CNDH affirmed its commitment to ongoing monitoring and intervention efforts and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, while remaining open to dialogue to ensure the effective exercise of rights and freedoms for all citizens.