Several thousand people took to the streets of Casablanca on Sunday to press for deeper political reforms, saying recent changes did not go far enough. The protesters, mobilising on a call from the so-called February 20 pro-democracy movement, held their first demonstration without the Islamist Justice and Charity group. The group withdrew from the February 20 movement earlier this month, claiming it had been the object of “attacks” from youths within the movement. Up to 5,000 people demonstrated in Casablanca’s poor Hay Mohammadi suburb, an AFP journalist witnessed, while police said about 3,500 people in total protested countrywide.
“We are here to to say that the fight will continue despite the withdrawal of political organisations, Islamic or otherwise,” protester Hamza Mahfoud told AFP. “Our demands are legitimate and they have not changed: a parliamentary monarchy and more social justice,” said Mahfoud. About 300 to 500 people took part in a similar protest in Rabat.
Earlier this month, the February 20 movement said it was willing to talk with the newly elected Islamist head of government under conditions that included the release of political prisoners, a guarantee of press freedom and more individual liberties.
