Morocco to Try Dozens Over Youth-Led Protests
Moroccan prosecutors will try 37 people accused of joining protests demanding reforms in health and education, their lawyer announced Tuesday.
Thirty-four defendants were released on bail pending trial on 7 October, while three remain in detention, lawyer Souad Brahma confirmed.
More than 200 demonstrators, mostly young people, were detained in Rabat during the past three days, though most were later released.
The protests, led by an anonymous collective called “GenZ 212,” have spread rapidly, fuelled by calls on online platforms like Discord.
Demonstrations continued into a fourth day Tuesday, with marches staged in several cities, reflecting growing frustration among Morocco’s restless youth.
In Casablanca, prosecutors opened an inquiry into 18 people accused of obstructing traffic during weekend protests, while six minors face a special court.
Morocco’s ruling coalition, comprising centre-right and liberal parties, pledged it was listening to the protesters’ demands and vowed to respond “positively and responsibly.”
GenZ 212 insists its movement is rooted in “love for the homeland,” while pressing for action on corruption, failing schools, and overwhelmed hospitals.
The unrest reflects broader anger at entrenched inequalities, which weigh heavily on women and the country’s younger generations, who see limited opportunities ahead.
Public outrage has sharpened since reports emerged of eight pregnant women dying in an Agadir hospital, a grim symbol of a strained health system.
As the streets fill with chants for reform, Morocco faces a test of whether youthful voices will be met with dialogue or repression.