Thousands march in Rabat to demand release of protest leaders

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Rabat yesterday to call for the release of detained members of the Rif protest movement, Hirak Al-Shaabi, reported local media. The protesters included members of many of Morocco’s civil and political organisations.

The protest march began at around noon in Bab El-Had in the centre of the city and was largely peaceful. A small group of counter-demonstrators chanted their support for King Mohammed VI.

According to Maghreb Arab Press, around 12,000 to 15,000 people attended the protest in the Moroccan capital. It was the largest since the Arab Spring protests in 2011.

Des milliers de manifestants à Rabat en soutien au Rif pic.twitter.com/KTEWAktBeq

— Prabonnaud (@FredPrab) June 11, 2017

Supporters of the Islamic Justice and Spirituality Movement — Al-Adl Wa Al-Ihssane — also responded to the call from its leader, Mohamed Abbadi, to attend the protest.

https://twitter.com/S_Errazzouki/status/873888579520524288

https://twitter.com/_/status/873901856703098880

The protesters demanded the release of the arrested activists who have lead the Rif movement’s calls for better opportunities and funding in the largely neglected north of Morocco.

Read: Morocco’s treatment of protests ‘confounded’

Slogans supporting the protesters of Al Hoceima and their demands were chanted as well as calls for social justice. The parents of Nasser Zefzafi, the protest movement leader who was arrested last month, were also among the protesters, said LeDesk.