Said Ait Mahdi, a prominent Moroccan activist and president of a leading activist group in the earthquake-stricken Al Haouz region, has been sentenced to three months in prison. The court also ordered him to pay a fine exceeding $1,000.
His lawyer, Isaac Charia, revealed that Ait Mahdi faced charges of defamation, assault, and inciting an unauthorized demonstration. Human rights advocates widely criticized the case as politically motivated and arbitrary.
The 6.8-magnitude earthquake in September 2023 devastated the Al Haouz region, leaving nearly 3,000 people dead and countless others displaced.
The natural disaster caused widespread destruction, leveling homes, schools, and health centers, and leaving critical infrastructure in ruins. Mountain roads became impassable, further isolating affected communities.
Since the earthquake, protests have erupted sporadically in various towns and villages. Demonstrators have accused local and regional officials of mismanaging the recovery efforts, claiming that many people remain in tents or temporary shelters, waiting for the chance to rebuild their lives.
Ait Mahdi is the first activist from the Al Haouz region to receive a prison sentence related to the protests. His three-month sentence is notably shorter than the typical one-year term for similar charges, according to his lawyer.
Meanwhile, three other activists facing similar accusations were acquitted, marking the group’s third court appearance since their arrest in December 2024.
Civil liberties advocates, including the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, have decried Ait Mahdi’s arrest, describing it as a direct retaliation for his activism on behalf of earthquake victims.
The association issued a statement condemning the detention as arbitrary, asserting that the charges against him aim to “conceal the serious violations” resulting from the government’s flawed earthquake response.
Broader Condemnation and Calls for Release
In solidarity with Ait Mahdi, the Local Coordination for the Defense of Freedoms and the Right to Organize — a coalition of NGOs and left-wing political parties — criticized the government’s repressive tactics. The coalition called for the activist’s immediate release, condemning the use of legal measures to stifle dissent and activism.
The devastating earthquake has exacerbated existing regional inequalities in Morocco, particularly in areas predominantly inhabited by indigenous minority groups. The destruction damaged over 60,000 homes and 585 schools, further highlighting the disparity in infrastructure development compared to Morocco’s thriving coastal cities.
In response to the crisis, the government pledged $11.5 billion for recovery and reconstruction over the next five years, which includes rebuilding homes and providing cash aid to displaced families.
Activist groups have not limited their demonstrations to towns and villages near the earthquake’s epicenter, such as Amizmiz and Talaat N’Yaacoub. They have extended their protests to larger cities, with a notable demonstration in Rabat last month.
The Civil Coalition of the Mountain, which comprises NGOs and associations from the earthquake region, staged a protest in front of Morocco’s parliament. The group demanded faster reconstruction efforts and drew attention to the “slow pace of reconstruction” 16 months after the earthquake.
The coalition had previously described Ait Mahdi as “the voice of the oppressed and earthquake victims.” Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Marrakech court during his trial, holding up his portrait and calling for his release. Their chants for justice and better treatment for earthquake victims echoed the broader dissatisfaction with the government’s response to the disaster.
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