2011 Moroccan protests

2011 Moroccan Uprising
Part of the Arab Spring
Morocco (dark green) and Western Sahara (green stripes) within the Arab world (light green) and Africa and Eurasia (grey).
Date 20 February 2011 (2011-02-20) – present[1]
Location  Morocco
Status Ongoing
Causes
Goals Constitutional reforms[6]
Characteristics
Concessions
given
  • A Constitutional Commission was appointed by King Mohammed VI to draft a new constitution.[10]
  • The Prime minister was given de facto power to appoint his cabinet. The king was to remain head of the judiciary and the security forces.[11]
  • A referendum was organized for July 1st, 2011 to allow Moroccans to vote for or against the new constitution. The constitution passed by 98.5%.[12]
  • Parliamentary elections were held on November 25th. [13]
Casualties
Death(s) 2
Injuries 128 [14]

The 2011 Moroccan protests are a series of demonstrations across Morocco and the Moroccan-controlled Western Saharan territory which have continued since 20 February 2011 and are inspired by other protests in the region.[15] The protests were organized by the February 20th Youth Movement, a group largely consisting of students.

Contents

Origin

Driven by uprisings and revolutions in other North African countries, the origin of these demonstrations lays in the many social, economic and political issues that have plagued the Moroccan people since Morocco's independence. February 20th activists have rallied around these issues, which include the lack of civil liberties and rights, high illiteracy, a wide gap between rich and poor, corruption, the failure of healthcare and the absence of legitimate elections. They founded the group in late January and created a Facebook page as well as a youtube campaign video which turned viral.

Timeline

On 20 February, thousands of Moroccans rallied in the capital, Rabat, to demand that King Mohammed give up some of his powers, chanting slogans such as: "Down with autocracy" and "The people want to change the constitution".[16] They were heading towards the parliament building, and police did not halt them, although Moroccan Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar said that people should not join the march. A separate protest was also under way in Casablanca and one was planned for Marrakesh.[17] Acts of looting and major disorder were widespread in Tangier,[18][19] Marrakesh,[20][21][22] Al Hoceima,[23][24] Chefchaouen,[25] Larache,[20][26][27] Ksar-el-Kebir,[26] Fez,[28] Guelmim,[29] Tétouan,[25] and Sefrou.[30]

Thousands took to the streets of Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier and Marrakech in peaceful protests demanding a new constitution, a change in government and an end to corruption. During a march on Hassan II Avenue in the capital, Rabat, demonstrators demanded a new constitution to bring more democracy to the country. They shouted slogans calling for economic opportunity, education reform, better health services, and help in coping with the rising cost of living.[31][32]

The Associated Press estimated the turnout in Rabat at 4,000, while organizers put the crowd outside Parliament at 20,000.[33] The Interior Ministry estimated that the total number of protesters was about 37,000 people.[34]

On 26 February, about 1,000 people demonstrated in Casablanca demanding political reforms, according to AFP.[35]

On 13 March, several hundred demonstrators gathered in Casablanca demanding reforms. Riot police broke up the rally with batons, injuring dozens in what was described as the most violent intervention since the start of the protests.[36]

On 20 March, an estimated 35,000 citizens of diverse backgrounds and interests[37][38] participated in peaceful protests in more than 60 cities across the country, some demanding more political changes than those announced by King Mohammed in his 9 March address, while others wanting to keep up the pressure so that the reforms come about.[39] The police did not intervene and no violent acts were reported.

On 24 April, thousands of people protested across Morocco, demanding an end to corruption, an independent judiciary, constitutional reforms, legislative elections as well as more jobs for university graduates.[40][41]

On 8 May, thousands of Moroccans marched in Marrakesh to demand reforms and express their opposition towards terrorist attacks, like the one on 28 April.[42]

On 22 May, Moroccan police spent hours chasing hundreds of pro-democracy activists through the streets of the capital in an effort to prevent any pro-reform demonstrations. The government appeared to be implementing a new zero tolerance policy for protesters. [43]

On 5 June, nearly 60,000 protesters convened in Rabat and Casablanca to demonstrate, many carrying a picture of Kamal Amari,[44] who died from police brutality. The death highlighted escalating police brutality directed at demonstrators.[45]

On 28 July, a few dozens of Feb20 Movement protesters gathered in front of a courthouse in Safi to demand authorities to free two unfairly arrested Sebt Gzoula demonstrators. Those two were arrested under false claims of attacking government forces.

Protests have continued nearly every Sunday, with thousands marching in cities around Morocco calling for governmental reform.

On 18 September, three thousand protesters marched through the streets of Casablanca in the largest such demonstration in months.[46]

Domestic response

On 9 March, in a live televised address, King Mohammed VI announced his decision to undertake a comprehensive constitutional reform aimed at improving democracy and the rule of law, and underlined his "firm commitment to giving a strong impetus to the dynamic and deep reforms... taking place". The monarch announced the formation of a commission to work on the constitutional revisions, with proposals to be made to him by June after which a referendum would be held on the draft constitution.[47]

The comission was widely criticized by the protest movement leaders, which refused to participate in the comission's work, despite being invited to do so by the government.

On 14 April, King Mohammed VI pardoned or reduced the sentences of 190 prisoners, including Islamists and Sahrawi independence activists[41].

Constitutional reform proposals

In a televised speech on Friday, 17 June, King Mohammed VI announced a series of constitutional reforms, passed through a national referendum on 1 July.[48] The newly proposed reforms were largely supported by Moroccans, and popular celebrations were observed throuought the country, the leaders of the 20 February Movement rejected the proposals as insufficient and called for continuing protests on 19 June 2011 demanding "truly democratic constitution and a parliamentary monarchy", while calling for a mass boycott of the poll .[49][50][51] On 29 June 2011, the protesters called for a boycott of the referendum.[52]

The proposed reforms passed and gave the prime minister and parliament more executive authority, and made Berber an official language in Morocco, together with Arabic, as well as the Arab-Hassani Language spoken among the Saharawi tribes of Morocco. The proposal empowered the prime minister with the authority to appoint government officials and to dissolve the parliament - the powers previously held by the king.[49] However, the king remains the military commander-in-chief and retains his position as the chair of the Council of Ministers and the Supreme Security Council, the primary bodies responsible for the security policy.[49] A new constitutional provision also confirms the king's role as the highest religious authority in the country.[53]

In a televised speech on 30 July the king said the constitutional changes should be implemented swiftly, starting with parliamentary elections, adding that "any delay may jeopardise this dynamic of trust and squander opportunities offered by the new reform". After negotiations between the interior ministry, which oversees elections, and some 20 political parties, the government proposed that parliamentary elections should take place on 11 November instead of the scheduled date of September next year.[54]

A large number of protesters went onto the streets again on 11 September 2011[55] and on 18 September 2011.[56]

Casualties

On 20 February, five bodies had been found in Al Hoceima, within a bank that had been destroyed by protesters who set it on fire during the 20 February protests.[57] According to eye witnesses, the bodies belonged to rioters that were trying to loot the bank.[58]

On 2 June 2011, a man died of injuries he had allegedly received during the riots the city of Safi witnessed three days before. Official reports state that the man's participation to the protest in precarious health conditions led to the complications which caused his death.

See also

References

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External links

Mamfakinch, a website of the February 20th movement

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[//en.wikinews.org/wiki/Category:2011_Morocco_anti-government_protests 2011 Morocco anti-government protests]