Morocco: Father of Jailed Hirak Leader Nasser Zefzafi Dies of Cancer
Rabat — Ahmed Zefzafi, the father of imprisoned Hirak Rif activist Nasser Zefzafi, died on Tuesday after battling stage IV cancer, according to family sources.
The death comes months after Moroccan prison authorities granted Nasser a temporary release in May to visit his father at a private clinic in Al Hoceima, highlighting the seriousness of the elder Zefzafi’s condition.
Ahmed’s cancer had spread to his lungs, liver, and lymph nodes, leaving him with limited treatment options despite undergoing chemotherapy.
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, and MENA Rights Group, had appealed to Moroccan authorities earlier this year, requesting Nasser’s humanitarian release so he could care for his ailing father. The requests were denied.
Nasser Zefzafi, 46, emerged as the most prominent figure of the Hirak Rif protest movement that began in 2016 after the death of fishmonger Mohcine Fikri in Al Hoceima. The demonstrations, which demanded economic development and improved public services for the Rif region, led to the arrest of dozens of activists.
In 2018, a Casablanca court sentenced Zefzafi and three others to 20 years in prison. More than 50 other activists received sentences ranging from one to 20 years. The trial drew criticism from rights groups, who questioned its fairness.
Despite his incarceration, Zefzafi has pursued his education from prison. He completed his high school diploma in 2024 and recently passed his second-semester university exams with an average of 15.64 for the 2024–2025 academic year.
His case has drawn international concern. The European Parliament raised the issue in a 2023 resolution, and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention expressed concerns over the legality of his imprisonment in August 2024.
Ahmed Zefzafi is survived by his family, who now mourn his death while his son remains behind bars.