Rabii El Ablaq enters fourth week of hunger strike to protest unfair 5-year sentence in Morocco prison.
Rabii, 36, who has today reached the 34th day of her indefinite hunger strike in prison and whose life is at severe risk, is a journalist and member of Rif ‘Hirak’ activist who is currently serving a five years sentence in Morocco prison for his involvement in the Hirak El-Rif protests that took place in Morocco’s northern Rif region throughout 2017.
After his regular biweekly visit, his brother Abdellatif said, that Rabii is showing no sign of backing down despite the severe deterioration his health Condition in the face of government unresponsiveness.
On April 2019, a Casablanca court sentenced Al Ablaq, to five years in prison along with 53 other activists—including Hirak leader Nasser Zefzafi, who received a 20-year sentence—on charges of “undermining the internal security of the state”.
The Hirak El-Rif protests began in the northern city of Al Hoceima and surrounding areas in October 2016, after fishmonger Mouhcine Fikri was crushed to death by a garbage truck as he attempted to recover fish confiscated by local authorities.
The protesters were demanding an end to the marginalization of their predominantly Amazigh communities and were making social justice related demands such as a better healthcare system, improved infrastructure, an end to corruption, and employment opportunities in the region. As a result, the Moroccan authorities have carried out a large wave of arrests rounding up scores of protesters, activists and journalist in the neglected Moroccan Rif region.
[ads2]
