Moroccans challenge 'protest ban' to condemn economic crisis, normalisation, and crackdown on freedom

Moroccans took to the streets on Sunday to protest high prices, the crackdown on the freedom of expression and normalisation with Israel, which also challenged the authorities' written order banning protests.

Dozens of activists gathered at the "Nassr square" in Casablanca, amid a large security presence, to protest the skyrocketing prices of goods and fuel, and also called for the right of free education and health care for all citizens.

Under the organisation of the Moroccan Social Front, a pro-Palestine social movement, activists also condemned Morocco's two-year-long normalisation with Israel amid the rising violence against Palestinians, including Israel's recent crime against Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed this month by the Israeli army while wearing a helmet and a press vest.

During the sit-in, Moroccan and Palestinian flags flew together over the city's sky, while the Israeli flag was burned as activists cheered.

Shireen Abu Akleh's pictures were widely seen in the sit-in along with images of jailed Moroccan journalists Omar Radi and Souliaman Raissouni.

Radi and Raissouni are spending multiple-year sentences in prison for sexual assault charges. International organisations say their trials were politically motivated. 

Ahead of the sit-in, the Social Front said they received on Thursday a written order from the local authorities in Casablanca that banned Sunday's demonstration due to the state of emergency in the country related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Front decided to challenge the decision.

"We are here today despite the decision to ban the protest. The protest has become a sit-in due to the security blockade. The ban decision is significant proof of the crackdown on freedom of speech in Morocco, but we will continue to resist the economic and social strangle," Youness Ferachin, the national coordinator of the Front, told The New Arab.

The Moroccan government has decided to renew the state of health emergency until the end of June.

The state of emergency related to health allows the government to take a range of "exceptional decisions" such as forcing a night curfew or banning gatherings.

As Morocco moves towards returning to normal ahead of the tourism season, the renewal of the emergency state was widely criticised by many citizens.

"We are in a police state. They want to control us by this state of emergency. Weddings and parties are everywhere. They do not fear covid they fear our voices," said a protestor to The New Arab, before she continued chanting against the ban decision.

Lately, the Moroccan street has witnessed a range of sit-ins in the big cities, mainly against the economic crisis and the normalisation.

The Moroccan market has witnessed an unprecedented rise in prices due to inflation, which is expected to reach more than 4 per cent this year. 

The increases have also affected the prices of fuel. The price of diesel has risen more than 30 per cent since last February, reaching about 1.5 dollars (14 MAD) per litre today.

David Govrin, the Head of the Israeli Liaison Office in Morocco, said in a recent interview that normalisation between Rabat and Tel Aviv has become more difficult due to the "mounting tension between Israel and Palestine".

Morocco was the fourth Arab country to normalise ties with Israel in 2020 under US auspices. 

Rabat had previously established ties with Tel Aviv right after the signing of the Oslo peace agreement in 1993.

Following the Palestinian uprising (Intifada) in 2000, the kingdom decided to cut off its newly established ties with Israel.

In 2020, Rabat renewed ties with the Israeli state in exchange for the US recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara.