Photo Gallery
Demonstration Violently Repressed in Bab El Had, Rabat, Morocco 23/06/13
Today, two protests were organized in Rabat, Morocco one by the "Free Koulchi" (free every one) campaign which brought together the families of political prisoners from various Moroccan cities. The latter was planned for 5PM. The second demonstration at 6PM was organized by the February 20th Movement also calling for the release of political prisoners but also against the Makhzenist regime. Both found the square already occupied by riot police, surrounding the area where the protestors planned to meet. As the Free Koulchi demonstration approached the square, it was violently repressed and two protestors arrested. The demonstration was broken up as it attempted to join the February 20th Movement demonstration a few hundred meters away. The first set of photos below are of the repression in the Free Koulchi demonstration, the second are in the less violent February 20th movement demonstration.
Today, two protests were organized in Rabat, Morocco one by the "Free Koulchi" (free every one) campaign which brought together the families of political prisoners from various Moroccan cities. The latter was planned for 5PM. The second demonstration at 6PM was organized by the February 20th Movement also calling for the release of political prisoners but also against the Makhzenist regime. Both found the square already occupied by riot police, surrounding the area where the protestors planned to meet. As the Free Koulchi demonstration approached the square, it was violently repressed and two protestors arrested. The demonstration was broken up as it attempted to join the February 20th Movement demonstration a few hundred meters away. The first set of photos below are of the repression in the Free Koulchi demonstration, the second are in the less violent February 20th movement demonstration.
20 Fevrier - Bab El Had, Rabat 26/06/11
Unable to hold another protest in poor residential areas, the 20 February movement resorted to holding it in Bab El Had, in downtown Rabat. The atmosphere at this protest was peaceful, yet defiant as police forces surrounded us to intimidate people in to leaving. The intimidation ended up by working as some protestors fled after seeing two charter busses, in addition to a dozen riot police vans. The police blockaded every entry and exit, leaving us surrounded by walls and shields, effectively blocking our march. They slowly began to close in on us on one side. To demonstrate peaceful intentions the crowd often screamed "peaceful, peaceful!" and sat down on the ground since we were no longer allowed to march forward. Amongst the things the crowd asked for were: the boycott of the referendum, the fall of the government and an end to corruption.
Why were we treated in such a way when it was clear that we were not a destructive force? It was evident that the government supports were a far more violent group of people as they attempted entering our crowd to provoke violence. Even after we left, the police forces continued to struggle with containing government supporters. So while we were there, why were they facing us? We were walking away from the anti-reformists not towards them. These are, of course, rhetorical questions: they merely did not want any one else but ourselves to hear our chants against the constitution. Is this a country headed towards a democracy as mainstream media, Nicolas Sarkozy and Ban Ki Moon like to make it out to be? I think not. Read the old constitution, that one also had a lot of fluff in it.
Please click on the images to view them.
Unable to hold another protest in poor residential areas, the 20 February movement resorted to holding it in Bab El Had, in downtown Rabat. The atmosphere at this protest was peaceful, yet defiant as police forces surrounded us to intimidate people in to leaving. The intimidation ended up by working as some protestors fled after seeing two charter busses, in addition to a dozen riot police vans. The police blockaded every entry and exit, leaving us surrounded by walls and shields, effectively blocking our march. They slowly began to close in on us on one side. To demonstrate peaceful intentions the crowd often screamed "peaceful, peaceful!" and sat down on the ground since we were no longer allowed to march forward. Amongst the things the crowd asked for were: the boycott of the referendum, the fall of the government and an end to corruption.
Why were we treated in such a way when it was clear that we were not a destructive force? It was evident that the government supports were a far more violent group of people as they attempted entering our crowd to provoke violence. Even after we left, the police forces continued to struggle with containing government supporters. So while we were there, why were they facing us? We were walking away from the anti-reformists not towards them. These are, of course, rhetorical questions: they merely did not want any one else but ourselves to hear our chants against the constitution. Is this a country headed towards a democracy as mainstream media, Nicolas Sarkozy and Ban Ki Moon like to make it out to be? I think not. Read the old constitution, that one also had a lot of fluff in it.
Please click on the images to view them.
Propaganda and Thug Violence: Taqadoum, Rabat - 19/06/11
The February 20th movement had originally planned to protest against the new constitution in Taqadoum, Rabat on the 19th of June. As a retaliation to this planned protest, the authorities of Taqadoum organized a counter-protest, bringing a bus-load of pre-paid anti-reform thugs. Security forces were lined up on each side of the Avenue in which the protest was planned and several riot police vans were parked at the location at which democracy activists had planned to meet.
When the activists showed up, the thugs attacked them, singled them out and chased them down narrow streets. There have been reports of female activist's (including Samira Kinani from the Moroccan Association of Human Rights) being attacked or sexually harassed (video), some had their pants pulled down by thugs. Many of these thugs were, in fact, under the influence of drugs. One witness reported hearing a police officer preventing another from intervening: "Leave them, leave them-- they're high!" referring to the thugs. Having successfully brought the planned protest to the ground, several cabs and small trucks circulated around the area, anti-reformists sitting on top of them and shouting insults against the February 20th movement on loudspeakers (video).
This indirect action taken by the Taqadoum authorities was inhumane and against the basic individual rights of the protestors who planned to peacefully voice their opinions against the constitution. The thugs who violently attacked democracy activists must be brought to justice. Due to threats I received directly from the local authorities of Taqadoum, I have refrained from posting certain pictures. Other pictures I took, I was forced to delete by the authorities on the site. (Hence why the image quality is so low, I resorted to using screenshots from video I took.) Normally, in a true democratic state other activists and I would take legal action against the Taqadoum authorities. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Morocco as we would only be digging a deeper grave for ourselves.
The pictures below only show the aftermath of the incident: the remaining thugs and anti-reformists (yes, I do acknowledge that not all anti-reformists are violent) circulating with taxis and trucks. These pictures also show how mainstream media only chooses to show those who are against reform and for the constitution. It is also important to notice the demographic of the anti-reformists, they are predominantly-- if not entirely, young men and boys. This is very different from the more representative variety of people found in protests led by the February 20th movement.
The February 20th movement had originally planned to protest against the new constitution in Taqadoum, Rabat on the 19th of June. As a retaliation to this planned protest, the authorities of Taqadoum organized a counter-protest, bringing a bus-load of pre-paid anti-reform thugs. Security forces were lined up on each side of the Avenue in which the protest was planned and several riot police vans were parked at the location at which democracy activists had planned to meet.
When the activists showed up, the thugs attacked them, singled them out and chased them down narrow streets. There have been reports of female activist's (including Samira Kinani from the Moroccan Association of Human Rights) being attacked or sexually harassed (video), some had their pants pulled down by thugs. Many of these thugs were, in fact, under the influence of drugs. One witness reported hearing a police officer preventing another from intervening: "Leave them, leave them-- they're high!" referring to the thugs. Having successfully brought the planned protest to the ground, several cabs and small trucks circulated around the area, anti-reformists sitting on top of them and shouting insults against the February 20th movement on loudspeakers (video).
This indirect action taken by the Taqadoum authorities was inhumane and against the basic individual rights of the protestors who planned to peacefully voice their opinions against the constitution. The thugs who violently attacked democracy activists must be brought to justice. Due to threats I received directly from the local authorities of Taqadoum, I have refrained from posting certain pictures. Other pictures I took, I was forced to delete by the authorities on the site. (Hence why the image quality is so low, I resorted to using screenshots from video I took.) Normally, in a true democratic state other activists and I would take legal action against the Taqadoum authorities. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Morocco as we would only be digging a deeper grave for ourselves.
The pictures below only show the aftermath of the incident: the remaining thugs and anti-reformists (yes, I do acknowledge that not all anti-reformists are violent) circulating with taxis and trucks. These pictures also show how mainstream media only chooses to show those who are against reform and for the constitution. It is also important to notice the demographic of the anti-reformists, they are predominantly-- if not entirely, young men and boys. This is very different from the more representative variety of people found in protests led by the February 20th movement.
20 Fevrier: Salé Protest - Manifestation å Salé - 12/06/11
Sunday's protest in Salé, Morocco was successful: the crowd was varied, the police did not intervene, the atmosphere was festive; smiles and laughter were more common in this crowd than anger and unhappiness, the crowd sang and the crowd even danced. What better way to ask for our rights and dignity? Explore the photos by clicking on them!
Check out the videos from which these photos were derived by visiting my youtube homepage: click here.
To find out more about the February 20 Movement and the issues which plague Morocco, please visit the following sites:
Mamfakinch
20 Fevrier - Maroc
February 20 - USA
Sunday's protest in Salé, Morocco was successful: the crowd was varied, the police did not intervene, the atmosphere was festive; smiles and laughter were more common in this crowd than anger and unhappiness, the crowd sang and the crowd even danced. What better way to ask for our rights and dignity? Explore the photos by clicking on them!
Check out the videos from which these photos were derived by visiting my youtube homepage: click here.
To find out more about the February 20 Movement and the issues which plague Morocco, please visit the following sites:
Mamfakinch
20 Fevrier - Maroc
February 20 - USA
