Front Line Defenders condemns the judicial harassment of Abdessadeq El Bouchtaoui, which appears to be the result of his work as a human rights lawyer and the exercise of his freedom of expression, and calls on Moroccan authorities to immediately drop all charges and halt judicial harassment of the human rights defender.

Abdessadeq El Bouchtaoui is a human rights defender and lawyer who represents activists in Al-Hoceima facing charges in relation to “Hirak” Rif protests in Northern Morocco region.

Casablanca | During a court trail January 5, the “Hirak” activists lawyers, told the press media that Nasser Zefzafi, the Rif protests leader, is living in a very critical health after being held in solitary confinement for more than seven months now.

The same source added that Nasser has already lost about 20 pounds since his arrests after engaging in several hunger strikes along with other leaders of “Hirak” to protest what they call inhumane conditions of detention in the Oukacha prison in Casablanca.

Since the 1990s, the U.N. Committee Against Torture has repeatedly condemned the use of solitary confinement and called on all countries to ban the solitary confinement of prisoners except in very exceptional circumstances and for as short a time as possible, with an absolute prohibition in the case of juveniles and people with mental disabilities.

On the other hand, physician experts cite concerns that although a prisoner or detainee who goes on hunger strike may have no significant medical problems at the start of his actions, as the hunger strike is prolonged his physical deterioration will inevitably require medical intervention in order to preserve his life.

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Prince Hicham Alloaui of Morocco is the first cousin of the current King Mohammed VI, he is known as “Red Prince” because of his progressive political positions. More recently, he has become an outspoken advocate for greater democracy in Morocco and the broader Middle East. He regularly speaks on these issues at public forums around the world, among them the University of Harvard University and Yale University. He has also published numerous essays on political reform and democracy in English, French, and Arabic language journals and newspapers.

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The incident sparked a wave of demonstrations in Morocco’s neglected Rif region, demanding demanding jobs, funding for the impoverished area and an end to alleged government corruption.

On the other hand, Morocco police have arrested more than 270 people over the Rif protests, many of them arbitrarily, including peaceful activists and some journalists. The overwhelming majority are in detention, and many have already been sentenced to prison terms for protest-related charges. At least 50 are currently being investigated on state-security charges. Some could face could face death penalty.[ads1]

Morocco authorities have banned all protests activity planned for the first anniversary of Mohcine Fikri on Friday and Saturday 27th and 28th in the restive Al-Hoceima province, according to a statement issued by the provincial authorities.

[ads1][dropcap]D[/dropcap]ozens of hunger-striking Rif activists detained in the Oukacha prison in Casablanca including Nabil Ahamjik, Mohamed Jelloul and Rabii Al Ablaq, decided today to end their 38-day hunger strike following a request by their families and the Riffain community in Rif as well as in diaspora.

Since May 2017, Morocco police have arrested more than 270 people over the Rif protests, many of them arbitrarily, including peaceful activists and some journalists. The overwhelming majority are in detention, and many have already been sentenced to prison terms for protest-related charges. At least 50 are currently being investigated on state-security charges. Some could face could face death penalty.

On the other hand, Moroccan Authorities have responded harshly to the ongoing peaceful protests with an unprecedented crackdown, using excessive force to disperse crowds and carrying out mass arrests and detentions of more than 1000 protesters including Nasser Zafzafi, the leader of the protest movement. [ads1]