Justice System Sentences Youths in Casablanca
A recent ruling by the Court of Appeal in Casablanca has led to the sentencing of 18 individuals involved in the GenZ212 movement, with penalties ranging from one year of suspended prison time to ten months of actual imprisonment for "obstructing traffic" during protests. This legal action was disclosed by their defense team on Friday. The incidents took place amid peaceful demonstrations in Casablanca, where the GenZ212 collective was advocating for reforms in healthcare, education, and an end to corruption.
Back in October, the national prosecutor's office reported that over 2,400 individuals were facing charges, with approximately 1,400 of them in custody, primarily for violence related to the protests. On Thursday evening, the criminal chamber of the Casablanca Court of Appeal handed down sentences of eight months of imprisonment to 13 of the youths, while two others received a sentence of one year, with ten months to be served. Their attorney, Souad Brahma, confirmed these details to the press.
Additionally, three other protesters who were not in custody were sentenced to one year in prison, suspended. The 13 individuals sentenced to eight months had already served their time and were released, as stated by their lawyer El Hassan Essonni. According to the prosecution, these 18 young activists were apprehended at the end of September for allegedly obstructing traffic on a major urban highway in Casablanca, resulting in a complete halt of vehicular movement.
In connection with this case, six minors, four of whom are currently in provisional detention, are scheduled to appear in court on June 19. The GenZ212 protests, which were nearly daily over a two-week period, began to taper off after a speech from King Mohammed VI, urging a swift implementation of social reforms, coupled with the government's announcement of a "budgetary effort" for 2026 focusing on health and education. However, the demonstrations were marred by incidents of vandalism and clashes, leading to three fatalities near Agadir.
As reported by h24info.ma.
