Moroccan deputies from the opposition and the parliamentary majority have called for reconciliation to turn the page on the northern Rif region protests following harsh sentences issued in the so-called case of Al-Hoceima detainees.
Idriss Azami Al Idrissi, head of the parliamentary Justice and Development bloc, stated during the monthly accountability session on Monday, that his team’s respect for the judiciary’s independence and its faith in its significant roles in protecting rights, does not mean that the bloc will remain silent to the shock caused by the tough sentences issued in the case of “Popular Movement” activists in al-Hoceima.
The protests in Hoceima had development, social and rights objectives and can only be dealt with politically and through the framework of human rights.
He stressed that the sentences against the Hoceima demonstrators had been preceded by official political stances admitting the legality of the Movement’s demands.
Idrissi also announced support to all initiatives aimed at addressing the issue.
Noureddine Modian, head of the Independent opposition bloc, held the government responsible for the situation in Hoceima and called for solutions to turn the page on the issue for good.
Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani said in his statement in response to the lawmakers’ criticism that he was not happy to see any citizen serving a jail term, and that in the past he had been jailed under difficult conditions in Casablanca when there had been no international standards in Moroccan prisons.
Othmani added that only those who have been imprisoned would feel the agony of any citizen suffering a similar experience.
But the PM stressed that he cannot interfere in the judiciary’s work.
“The judiciary in our country is independent,” he told lawmakers.
