Morocco arrests hundreds of protesters as rallies turn violent

More than 400 people have been detained by Moroccan authorities as a result of obscene protests that demanded changes to the public health and education sectors, according to the Moroccan Ministry of Interior.

Authorities in the North African nation reported that on Wednesday, a fifth night of youth protests were occurring in cities across the country, but that night’s violence was reported to have increased. As demonstrators tore down cars and squattered shops, according to them, 263 members of the security forces and 23 civilians were hurt.

A loosely organized, unidentified youth organization hailed as GenZ 212, and uses platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and the gaming app Discord to conduct the online demonstrations.

A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry said in a statement that young men threw stones and knives at each other on Tuesday night. He claimed that 409 people were seized by the police.

According to him, administrative buildings, banks, and shops were vandalized or looted in the cities of Ait Amira, Inezgane, Agadir, and Tiznit, as well as Oujda, in the eastern city.

A bank building and damaged ATM machines that appeared to have been looted with broken glass scattered across the ground were seen in videos that were circulated on social media and verified by Al Jazeera.

The GenZ 212 group stated in posts about the protests that it would continue to support peaceful protests. It claimed that it only had an argument with the government and not with security forces.

According to a statement from the Interior Ministry, 20 private cars and 142 security vehicles had been set on fire.

Morocco has historically experienced peaceful protests over economic and social conditions, but this week’s demonstrations are the most violent since at least 2016 and 2017 when protesters clashed with security forces in the north of the Rif region.