Casablanca May 29, 2018
Rachid Belaali, a member of the defense committee for the Hirak detainees, said on Thursday to Anwalpress that a total of 798 Riffians involving elderly people, women and minors were prosecuted in relation to the ‘Hirak’ peaceful protest movement in Morocco neglected Rif region, among them 311 are still spread out in prisons across the nation.
The Hirak Rif movement started as a reaction to the tragic death of Mouhcine Fikri, who was fatally crushed to death by a truck compactor as he tried to retrieve fish merchandise which had been confiscated and discarded by law enforcement officers. The protests against Fikri’s death turned into a massive movement known as ”Hirak” that continued for years.
The movement gained traction in past months after the arrest of Nasser Zafzafi, leader of Hirak movement along with 120 of his fellow activists, led to solidarity marches across the country as well as in diaspora.
