By Ebi Kesiena
More than 1,500 people who joined recent anti-government demonstrations in Morocco are facing prosecution, according to the Moroccan Association for the Defence of Human Rights (ADMH). The protests, led largely by young people under the “Gen Z 212” movement, have stretched on for a month, calling for better education, improved healthcare, and an end to corruption.
The ADMH said around 1,000 protesters are currently in detention, while those charged face accusations ranging from destruction of public property to organising unauthorised protests and violence against security forces.
In Agadir, trials have already been held for 240 defendants, with 39 people handed prison sentences of between six and fifteen years.
Although demonstrations have slowed in recent days, the discontent that fuelled them remains strong among Morocco’s youth, who accuse the government of neglecting their social and economic needs.
In response, King Mohammed VI pledged on 10 October to accelerate social reforms, while the government announced a €13 billion investment in the 2026 budget aimed at improving healthcare and education access.
Meanwhile, the ADMH has urged authorities to release detained protesters and ensure fair and transparent trials for those still facing prosecution.
