Gen Z protests were once again raised during the Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General. On Thursday, October 2, Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq was asked about the violent demonstrations that took place in the town of Qliaa, where three people were killed after Royal Gendarmerie officers used their service weapons to repel an attempt to storm their post and seize arms and ammunition. «What is the SG's reaction, particularly to the use of live fire against civilians, and has there been any attempt by the UN to contact senior political figures in Morocco?» a journalist asked. «From our side, we urge transparent investigations and accountability for anyone found responsible for violating the rights of people engaged in peaceful protest», Haq responded. «I believe our colleagues on the ground in Morocco are aware of the matter and are reaching out to their counterparts», he explained. Earlier this week, the demonstrations in Morocco were also raised during the UN press briefing. At that time, Haq stressed that the UN «wants to make sure that everyone's right to freedom of expression and to peaceful protest is fully respected». The youth-led protests in Morocco, which began on the weekend of September 27–28, have called for better healthcare services and a quality national education system. While the demonstrations started peacefully, they were met with arrests and dispersals. In some cities, however, the movement took a violent turn, with clashes against security forces, arson, vandalism, looting, and even an attempt to storm a gendarmerie post.
