A Moroccan activist who led protests criticizing the government’s response to the devastating September 2023 earthquake has been sentenced to three months in prison.
Said Ait Mahdi, president of a prominent activist group in the earthquake-stricken region, was convicted on charges including defamation, assault, and inciting an unauthorized demonstration.
The 6.8-magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction, killing nearly 3,000 people and leaving thousands displaced.
Ait Mahdi’s arrest has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations, who argue that the charges are politically motivated and intended to silence dissent against the government’s handling of the disaster.
Protests have erupted across the region, with residents accusing local and regional officials of mismanagement and slow response efforts.
This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the government and civil society in Morocco, particularly in the aftermath of the earthquake, which has exacerbated existing regional inequalities.