(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #242 - Morocco,When power left to die a hunger striker (fr, pt)

 [machine translation]

Moustapha Meziani, leader of the student protests at the University of Fez, died Aug. 11 
after 72 days of a hunger strike carried out to protest against his detention. An event 
which, with others, shows the true face of Moroccan power: that of an authoritarian 
regime. ---- In June 2014, the number of faculties Morocco went on strike against the 
austerity policies of the government (lack of resources, increase in registration fee). 
Among them: the University of Fez where violent clashes between activists of the extreme 
left of the Unem (National Union of Students-es Moroccan ne s) and Salafis. Serious 
clashes leading to the death of an Islamist militant. Salafists, cleverly manipulated by 
the power and the Benkirane government (moderate Islamist as head of the ruling Justice 
and Development), to counter the weight of the Unem on campus. Old tactic but efficient 
divide and rule, already used in his time in the 1980s by King Hassan II, the power 
promotes Salafist map in poor neighborhoods and in the universities. The death of the 
Salafist serves therefore as a pretext for an aggressive police intervention on campus. 
Picket lines are raised, the university is emptied. Many of the activists were arrested 
Unem-es, imprisoned and tortured-es-es.

Islamist government and monarchy Meziani Moustapha, 31, considered one of the leaders of 
the student protest is one of eleven arrested supporters of Unem-es. He is being held at 
Ain Kadous jail and began a hunger strike to demand his release as well as those of their 
classmates and their backs to the university. On July 11, despite the insistence of his 
concerns about the health of Mustapha (weight loss, vomiting and fainting in open court) 
lawyers, the court of Fez confirms the extension of his detention. The Moroccan 
Association of Human Rights (AMDH) is organizing a major campaign nationally. 
Demonstrations of support take place in many cities. AMDH address an open letter to the 
head of government, Abdelilah Benkirane letter on the situation "worrying facing some 
prisons in the country". She insists Meziani case and calls for opening a dialogue with 
him to "preserve its sacred right to life". In vain.

72 days of hunger strike

Despite the mobilization, the Islamist government is relentless in its repressive policies 
supported by King Mohamed VI. August 9, his condition critical, Moustapha was transferred 
to hospital in Fes. Too late, he died on August 11 after 72 days of hunger strike. A few 
days earlier, given the gravity of the situation, some members of his family had 
threatened to go to turn in a hunger strike. They were arrested before they could to 
implement their action. A bruised family who was, in addition, require to bury the 
deceased in a secret place in the strictest privacy to prevent overflow.

Kidnapped, tortured and insulted

If Moustapha is unfortunately not isolated. The day before his death, was another advocate 
of Unem, Wafaa Sharaf, who was in turn condemned by the court of Tangier, a sentence of 
one year in prison and 51,000 dirhams fine (5,000 euros) for false accusation. She had 
maintained throughout the trial his accusations, made April 27, 2014, to have been 
abducted by plainclothes police and thrown into an unmarked car at the end of a working 
demonstration. Wafaa Sharaf said it had been kidnapped several hours, insulted and 
tortured before being abandoned along a road 12 km from the city center. Order reigns in 
Morocco. An order maintained at all costs, the price of legal murder and imprisonment of 
his opponents.

Jeremiah (AL Gard)