01 October 2025 – Brussels
The International Federation for Rights and Development (IFRD) expresses its deep concern over the grave human rights violations committed in Morocco during the unfolding GenZ212 Revolution. The movement, driven largely by young Moroccans demanding dignity, social justice, and democratic reforms, has been met with widespread repression by state authorities.
Documented violations include:
- Excessive Use of Force: Peaceful demonstrators have been violently dispersed using tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition in several cities.
- Arbitrary Arrests and Detentions: Hundreds of activists, journalists, and students have been detained without due process. Many remain held in undisclosed locations, raising fears of enforced disappearance.
- Torture and Ill-treatment: Testimonies from detainees and their families indicate physical abuse, intimidation, and denial of medical care in detention centers.
- Crackdown on Press and Digital Freedom: Independent media outlets have been censored, websites blocked, and journalists covering the protests subjected to harassment and arrest. Authorities are targeting online activism under vague “cybercrime” laws to silence youth voices.
- Collective Punishment: Families of activists are facing intimidation, house raids, and threats, creating an atmosphere of fear across entire communities.
- Suppression of Freedom of Assembly and Expression: Peaceful gatherings have been banned under the pretext of “public order,” in clear violation of Morocco’s international human rights obligations.
IFRD reminds the Moroccan authorities that these practices contravene the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which Morocco is bound to uphold.
We call on:
- The Moroccan government to immediately cease all violent repression, release detainees, and ensure accountability for abuses.
- The United Nations, the African Union, and the European Union to urgently intervene and press Morocco to respect fundamental freedoms.
- Civil society and international media to continue amplifying the voices of Morocco’s youth, who are courageously calling for a future built on justice, equality, and dignity.
The GenZ212 Revolution is not a crime; it is a democratic call for change. Silencing a generation will only deepen the crisis.
