The Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine and Opposing Normalization has expressed its firm rejection of the verdict issued by the Salé Court of First Instance, which sentenced 13 of its members to six months of suspended imprisonment and a fine of 2,000 dirhams each. The case stems from protests against Carrefour’s alleged ties to Israel.
Speaking at a press conference at the Moroccan Association for Human Rights headquarters in Rabat, the front described the ruling as unjust. Taieb Mdamad, a member of the secretariat, stated that the court’s decision would not deter the front from continuing its fight against normalization with Israel. He criticized the trial as politically motivated and aimed at suppressing activism for Palestine.
Mdamad also highlighted that the protests were peaceful and within the bounds of Morocco’s laws, emphasizing that demonstrations do not require prior authorization. He thanked the defense team for exposing the trial’s alleged retaliatory and political nature.
The protests date back to approximately a year ago when members of the front organized a demonstration outside a Carrefour store in Salé, responding to the global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel and businesses linked to it. The protest aimed to raise awareness about normalization with Israel, which has been a contentious issue in Morocco since the country signed normalization agreements in 2020.
Abu Shita Masaaef, a member of the Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine, criticized the ruling as contradictory to Morocco’s supposed support for the Palestinian cause. He viewed the sentence as an attack on freedom of expression and a badge of honor for the activists. The front vowed to continue its advocacy against normalization.
Mohammed Seddiko, a defense lawyer for the convicted activists, argued that the charges lacked legal justification. He pointed out that peaceful protests are protected under Morocco’s constitution and called for the appeals court to overturn the verdict. Seddiko referenced similar rulings in France, where calls for boycotts are considered legitimate expressions of free speech.
The defense team hopes the appeals court will overturn the ruling and acquit the activists, aligning with past court decisions that upheld the right to peaceful protest without prior authorization.
The activists, including prominent human rights figures, face charges of participating in an unauthorized demonstration and inciting protests. Despite the initial verdict, the Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine has reaffirmed its commitment to opposing normalization and supporting the Palestinian cause through various means.
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