2017–2018 Moroccan protests

The 2017–2018 Moroccan protests, or more commonly known as Hogra (Arabic: هجر أ) was mass demonstrations, popular protests and strike actions carried out by activists, civilians and hundreds of thousands of ordinary Moroccans in Morocco, staring in the town of Jerada protesting the deaths of 2 miners.^[1]

Background[]

The Hirak Rif Movement was a popular movement and civil uprising that echoed from peaceful opposition unrest to violent street protests and consisted of nonviolent grassroots marches and strike rallies in Morocco after the Death of Mouhcine Fikri in October 2016; his swordfish cart was confiscated. The incident triggered an uprising demanded justice and an end to police brutality but turned into demands for better public services, social infrastructure/developments and jobs. The movement was met with high police repression by the military as they suppressed the movement. Protesters also called on the release of Nasser Zefzafi, the leader of the protest movement who was arrested after interrupting Friday prayers in May. After the killing of 2 miners, civilians took to the streets once again.^[2]

Protests[]

On 27 December, thousands demonstrated following the deaths, prompting solidarity echoes nationwide. Strikes and unrest broke out and police clashed with demonstrators. Protests erupted in Zagora despite 3 months of thirst demonstrations in inspiration from the rallies in Jerada. Around ten thousands demonstrators gathered for the next couple of days despite a police Crackdown on protesters. Mass demonstrations broke out on other towns and attended funerals of the two miners in the shuttered area.^[3]

Scattered protests and anger over the killings and impoverishment in the nation sparked widespread violence and civil unrest, in protest at the government. Protesters also rallied for justice and better conditions in poor areas, port towns and rural areas of the country. Countrywide protests would lead to crackdowns, and it certainly did. After intensifying protests and large-scale protests, the police was sent in to disperse protesters and protests grew larger amid widespread voices in opposition to the current regime. In Zagora, water demonstrations was dispersed by police.^[4]

Protests continued into the new year, a wave of experienced and precedented protests hit the country. Big rallies and huge marches occurred in January, February and March, when demonstrations escalated after the death of another coal miner amid growing street protests and opposition demonstrations against low jobs, unemployment and impoverishment. Protests was met with violence as demonstrators threw stones at Riot police as anger and renewed protests resumed. Scores were left injured when police vans recklessly drove over protesters during intensive protests in Jerada.

Protests occurred in June 2018, but on a small magnitude. Protesters marched in a large-political earthquake the month after, amid widespread social protests, demanding the release of political prisoners and protesters jailed during the Hirak Rif Movement in 2016-2017. The rights group says Moroccan authorities used excessive, disproportionate force in dealing with economic protests.^[5]

See also[]

• Hirak Rif Movement

References[]