The Al Hoceima appeal court confirmed on Thursday evening the verdicts pronounced against seven Hirak activists, and which are ranging from five to 20 years in prison, for participating in unauthorized protests in the Rif, reports EFE. Two of the activists were sentenced to 20 years in prison. They are accused of putting fire to a police residence, using violence against the public forces on duty, disobedience and destruction of public property, and having participated to an unauthorized demonstration. The facts date back to March 26, 2017, when clashes erupted between police and protesters in the town of Imzouren, about 20 kilometers away from Al Hoceima. In addition, the sentences of ten years in prison were confirmed against two other individuals who participated, in August 2017, in the demonstrations and clashes that followed the funeral of activist Imad El Attabi, in Al Hoceima. The court also increased the sentences of two other people to respectively five and ten years in prison, accusing them of participating in an unauthorized protest and using violence against public forces, among others accusations. On the other hand, the court reduced the sentence of another activist from twelve to ten years in prison.
