Morocco arrests students for printing 'free Palestine' on football shirts

Two students and the owner of a printing shop in Morocco have been arrested for "wearing inciteful slogans" after emblazoning two national football team shirts with mottos supporting Palestine and the social demands of GenZ 212 protesters, according to local media.

The master's students residing in Rabat purchased two Atlas Lions jerseys last Saturday and then went to a shop where they had the slogans "Free Palestine" and "Education and health are a right for all" printed on them, reports Moroccan website Bladi, citing a local lawyer.

The students were arrested a short time later on a prominent avenue of the capital and taken into custody, as was the owner of the printing shop.

All three were brought before the prosecutor's office at the Rabat Court of First Instance and are being prosecuted under arrest for "carrying inciteful slogans".

The arrests come amid a volatile situation in the North African kingdom, which has been rocked for nearly two weeks by major social protests led by GenZ 212, a recently formed youth collective.

Protesters have taken to the streets of many Moroccan cities almost daily since 27 September to demand reforms in the education and health sectors as well as an end to corruption and an independent judiciary.

The young demonstrators are particularly critical of the recent massive investments in ultra-modern stadiums to host the 2025 African Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, while the local health and education systems are severely underfunded.

The authorities initially banned the gatherings and have arrested hundreds. In Rabat, 179 people were put on bail, and six are still in detention awaiting trial, according to the Moroccan Association for Human Rights.

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While the movement insists on its peaceful nature, violence erupted on the fringes of the demonstrations on two consecutive nights last week, resulting in the deaths of three people killed by police during clashes near a gendarmerie base. A film graduate who had come to document the events was among the casualties.

While GenZ 212 activists have focused on domestic issues, a few Palestinian flags and keffiyehs could be spotted during the rallies, in a country that has seen numerous mass demonstrations against the Israeli genocide in Gaza and the growing relations between Morocco and Israel, including military ties.

Though pro-Palestine protests are generally authorised and Morocco regularly releases statements of support for the Palestinians, pro-Palestinian activists have denounced increasing repression by the authorities in the country over the past two years, with several people arrested.

In March, a six-month suspended prison sentence was upheld on appeal against 13 members of the Moroccan Front for Support of Palestine and Against Normalisation, who were arrested while participating in a peaceful sit-in in front of a Carrefour store in the city of Sale.

In response to an urgent appeal submitted by MENA Rights Group on behalf of six of them, UN experts contacted the Moroccan government expressing concerns over their detentions, finding that “the actions carried out by human rights defenders … constitute acts of civil disobedience in line with international human rights law”.

Highly anticipated king's speech

In just a few days, GenZ 212 has gained considerable public support. The group’s page on Discord, the social media platform on which activists organise, has attracted more than 185,000 new members since its launch on 18 September.

On Wednesday, 60 Moroccan public figures expressed their support for the movement, urging King Mohammed VI to respond to the young protesters’ requests by initiating “in-depth” reforms.

The open letter by intellectuals, artists and human rights defenders included signatures from historian Maati Monjib, journalist Omar Radi and activist Fouad Abdelmoumni - three of the most well-known targets of the kingdom's political repression.

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The protests have also found an echo in football stadiums, as several ultras groups have announced a boycott of their teams' league matches in solidarity with GenZ 212.

The Rosso Verde, the national team's supporters group, also said it would not attend Morocco's upcoming matches against Bahrain and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, stating that "its role is not limited to cheering from the stands but also includes expressing its connection to the nation's and society's issues".

Several national team players, including Marseille defender Nayef Aguerd and Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yacine Bounou, have also expressed their support for the youth movement.

After demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and calling for a boycott of companies associated with the billionaire businessman heading the government, GenZ 212 activists now place their hope in the king, from whom they expect significant intervention.

Mohammed VI, who has not yet commented publicly on the protests, is scheduled to speak on Friday afternoon at the opening of the autumn parliamentary session to set out, as he does every year, the country's priorities.