Clashes between law enforcement and riotous demonstrators called by the GenZ212 movement in the Sidi Youssef district of Marrakech. Credit: Soufiane Sbiti / Le Desk
In a statement made on October 28, Judge Hassan Farhan, representative of the Presidency of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, provided an assessment of the convictions which followed both the demonstrations of the GenZ212 movement and the riots which broke out almost everywhere across the kingdom at the beginning of October.
Concerning the cases still pending before the courts, the magistrate explained that “the majority of postponements are due to the delays requested by defense lawyers to prepare their pleadings”. He added that “the sentences handed down in some criminal cases have not exceeded 15 years, although some offenses can be punished for up to 30 years, specifying that the courts took into consideration the personal circumstances of the accused, in particular their social situation and the absence of criminal record. Other files still remain before the investigating judges for continued investigations.”
According to the public prosecutor, 3,300 were released after being arrested during the demonstrations and the incidents that may have followed. These people were released after verification of their identity by the competent security services, it is reported. “It should be noted that these events involved several minors, released to their parents or legal guardians,” we add.
“On the other hand, 2,480 people suspected of having committed serious acts endangering the security of people and property, as well as public order, were presented before the prosecutors of several courts in the Kingdom (notably in Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Tangier, Oujda, etc.) for the necessary legal action”continues the representative of the public prosecutor.
We add that “according to the investigations and the reports, sufficient evidence has been established against a certain number of defendants, for offenses classified as crimes and misdemeanors in accordance with the Penal Code and other special laws”.
These offenses include: • armed rebellion by more than two people, • contempt and violence against public officials, • incitement to commit crimes and misdemeanors, • participation in an armed gathering, • sabotage and pillage of movable property, • damage to public property, • disruption of traffic, • material damage to the property of others, • qualified theft with circumstances aggravating crimes, • arson of an uninhabited building or an empty vehicle, • as well as possession of weapons in conditions threatening public safety.
The magistrate insisted that the intervention of the police was carried out within the framework of the law, in accordance with the texts governing public gatherings, and aimed to protect citizens and their property and to preserve public security and order, particularly in the face of serious acts such as arson, destruction of public and private property or road blockages causing serious injuries among the police and significant damage. materials.
At the end of the investigations, the competent public prosecutor’s offices decided to prosecute 2,480 defendants, including 959 on provisional release and 1,473 in detention, the latter figure having decreased following conditional releases, suspended sentences or acquittals, as well as the handing over of minors to their parents in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure. In addition, the prosecution closed 48 cases without further action.
Farhan also insisted on the fact that “prosecutors carefully examined all the evidence before deciding to prosecute, respecting the presumption of innocence and fair trial guarantees, including the right to a lawyer, informing families, and presenting evidence to the defense”.
It is cited that according to the data available as of October 27, 2025, 66 defendants appeared before the criminal chambers of the courts of appeal: 61 were convicted, 5 acquitted. “The sentences handed down vary between 1 year and 15 years in prison, although some offenses can reach 30 years, the courts having often applied mitigating circumstances », lit
At the level of the courts of first instance, 301 judgments were handed down against adults: • 208 prison sentences, • 66 suspended sentences, • 27 acquittals. Regarding minors, 162 were tried, including 83 returned to their parents, in accordance with the best interests of the child.
In conclusion, Hassan Farhan clarified that “the acquittal rate reached 11.4% at the level of the courts of first instance and 9.7% at the level of the courts of appeal, confirming according to him the fair and rigorous nature of the procedures carried out by the prosecutors of the Kingdom”.
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