Demand for Judicial Investigation into Housing Violations
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights has made a compelling call for a "fair and transparent" judicial investigation into what it describes as field violations linked to demolition and relocation operations in the military neighborhood of "Youssef Ben Tachfine" in Marrakech. The organization emphasized the pressing need to hold accountable those involved in "irregularities related to real estate and urban corruption" in the area. They also demanded an immediate halt to forced relocation operations and urged the resumption of ownership procedures based on previously established legal references, which would safeguard the residents' right to decent housing.
Impact on Vulnerable Communities and Urgent Calls for Action
The statement highlighted that the affected groups in the "Bain Lakchali" area predominantly consist of veterans, retired military personnel, and widows of martyrs. It warned that this demographic, which has rendered significant services to the nation, now faces the imminent dangers of homelessness and marginalization. The human rights organization recorded a severe deterioration in the social and environmental conditions within the neighborhood, where families live under increasing psychological pressure due to the accumulation of debris and the spread of sewage, threatening to turn the area into a hotspot for health and security risks. This situation is exacerbated by the municipal council's failure to manage basic services such as sanitation and lighting.
Moreover, the association pointed out the harsh implications of this dire situation on the future of children and students, who struggle immensely to obtain essential administrative documents necessary for school enrollment or for retrieving vocational training certificates. The report also noted that many candidates preparing for the baccalaureate exams have been deprived of national identification cards, jeopardizing their educational trajectory and further compounding the suffering of the affected families, who are demanding compensation for years of neglect. The association firmly holds public authorities responsible for the disruption of maintenance and cleaning interventions in the neighborhood, stressing the need to uphold the constitutional rights of the residents, particularly the rights to education and access to official documents.
In light of these pressing issues, the organization called for urgent intervention to alleviate environmental and health damages while emphasizing the importance of involving residents in any future solutions aimed at integrating the neighborhood into the urban fabric of the city in a manner that ensures equity and dignity.
As reported by alhayatalyaoumia.ma.
