Commenting on the response to the recent Gen Z protests in several Moroccan cities, Interior Ministry spokesperson Rachid El Khalfi said on Wednesday that «all interventions were carried out transparently and in accordance with the law, with the press and media free to cover events without restriction». He explained that most arrests were for identity verification, while custody measures applied only to those accused of criminal acts such as blocking roads, arson, stone-throwing at security forces, and damage to public and private property. El Khalfi emphasized that operations adhered to legal and professional standards set by the Constitution, relevant legislation, and internationally recognized human rights protocols. Their purpose, he said, was to preserve order, protect people and property, and ensure the lawful exercise of rights and freedoms. He explained that interventions were guided by three principles: gradual escalation, «characterized by moderation, with force used only minimally and only after all peaceful means had been exhausted, limited to dispersing gatherings with standard procedures and legal warnings»; proportionality, by using only appropriate and limited means, avoiding excessive measures; and prevention, stressing that interventions were preceded by multiple attempts to avoid confrontation through warnings and other measures. Regarding the decision to ban recent demonstrations, he explained it was due to «non-compliance with applicable legal provisions», noting that authorities had recorded «unframed gatherings of unknown origin». He argued that the ban was intended to balance «citizens' right to peaceful protest (Article 29 of the Constitution) with society's right to security and stability (Article 21)». He further stressed that Morocco has made «significant progress in freedom of expression, including the freedom of peaceful protest in compliance with applicable legal provisions», highlighting that «more than 600 demonstrations are recorded each month under normal conditions». El Khalfi concluded that the ministry will continue to fulfill its constitutional duty to protect public security and order while safeguarding individual and collective rights and freedoms, adding that «achieving this balance is at the heart of the authorities' responsibilities».
