Escalating Repression Against Pro-Palestinian Voices in Morocco
Morocco, one of the four Arab nations that signed the Abraham Accords with Israel, has witnessed a significant increase in repression against pro-Palestinian activists in recent years. On May 15, 2026, the National Judicial Police Brigade interrogated Jamal Barajaa, the Secretary-General of the Democratic Labor Party, regarding a speech he delivered last August during a protest in Tangier against Morocco's normalization of relations with Israel. The prosecution viewed Barajaa's call to end this normalization as 'incitement,' highlighting the growing tensions surrounding political discourse in the country.
Alongside Barajaa, Hassan Mghabar, the local party secretary in Tangier, and Sayyad Bendahman, a member of the local board, were also summoned for interrogation due to accusations of calling for the overthrow of the Moroccan political regime, locally known as the Majzén. The Democratic Labor Party expressed strong condemnation of the authorities' actions, framing these measures as part of a broader strategy of 'blockade and restrictions' imposed on their activities. This crackdown has also extended to preventing the party from accessing public halls for their upcoming congress, scheduled for July 24-26, 2026.
Solidarity Among Leftist Parties Amidst Repression
Following his release, Barajaa spoke with the local media outlet Larache, reiterating that his remarks against normalization were firmly rooted in the principles of freedom of expression and did not constitute incitement. He criticized the Majzén for its 'long and systematic repression' against his party and vowed to continue advocating for the rights of the working class and the pursuit of true democracy, justice, and equality.
In a show of solidarity against the repressive measures faced by Barajaa and his colleagues, 15 leftist parties and groups from across the Arab and African regions issued a joint statement on May 17, denouncing the attacks on the three activists as a tactic inherent to the Majzén. They argue that such actions reflect the regime's fear and confusion in the face of escalating public outrage against its policies of subjugation, tyranny, and corruption.
Among the signatories of this declaration were notable parties such as the Workers' Party of Tunisia, the Mauritanian Workers' Party, the Lebanese Communist Party, and the Jordanian Democratic People's Party, among others. This collective response underscores the widespread concern regarding Morocco's intensified repression of pro-Palestinian activists, particularly since the signing of the Abraham Accords with Tel Aviv in 2020. The crackdown has further escalated in response to protests against Israel's aggressive actions in Gaza, with many activists facing detention and fines.
As reported by resumenlatinoamericano.org.
