On Sunday night, security forces in Casablanca detained 21 young men during a protest that disrupted traffic on the highway near the Souk Kriaa entrance, causing chaos and major jams. The demonstration, sparked by calls from «Generation Z» activists on social media, drew dozens of young people, some masked, who gathered on the highway chanting slogans demanding freedom, social justice, and reforms in health and education. Their action brought traffic to a standstill in both directions between Casablanca and Rabat. The detainees are being held in preliminary custody, pending their appearance before the public prosecutor. In response, the General Secretariat of the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption issued a statement condemning the protest as a «serious criminal act» that exceeded the bounds of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, especially as it blocked ambulances and ordinary citizens from passing through. The organization urged the public prosecutor to open an immediate investigation and prosecute those involved under Article 507 of the Penal Code. It also voiced concern over the rapid release of some detainees and denounced what it described as a «criminal assault» on public forces, who were pelted with stones during the intervention. While affirming that freedom of expression is a legitimate right, the organization stressed that it must not endanger public safety, emphasizing that the nation's interests must come first.
