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Morocco

Rare protests continue in Morocco over death of fishmonger

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By Seamus Kearney
Rare protests continue in Morocco over death of fishmonger

Protests continue in Morocco over the death of a fishmonger who was crushed in a garbage truck as he attempted to retrieve fish confiscated by the police.

What happened to Mouhcine Fikri can happen and already happens to anyone, not only in Al Hoceima, but maybe even in Rabat or Casablanca. They humiliate us and keep putting us down

Amid rare demonstrations over claims of police abuse and injustice, authorities are promising an investigation into the death in the north of the country on Friday.

One protester in Rabat, Nouzha Nemrouni, told reporters: “I came here to express my support for the man who’s been murdered and solidarity with all Moroccans.

“What happened to Mouhcine Fikri can happen and already happens to anyone, not only in Al Hoceima, but maybe even in Rabat or Casablanca. They humiliate us and keep putting us down.”

Another woman protester said: “Every time they keep killing one of us, among the poorest in the country, using the excuse that this man had done something illegal. They always steal sea resources illegally and nobody says anything about that. They’re not facing any charges.”

The death has echoes of the incident that sparked an uprising in Tunisia in 2011, when a fruit and vegetable seller set himself on fire after his produce was confiscated by police.