Moroccan secular leftists protesting

Moroccan secular leftists protesting in the streets without their Islamist allies

The protest movement February 20 (20F) on Sunday held a protest demonstration in the main cities of Morocco , the first of which hits the streets after his divorce from his ally, the banned Islamist movement Justice and Charity .

In Rabat, the youth opposition movement managed to get over 700 people in a protest march where demonstrators demanded "dignity, freedom and social justice" with its classic slogan: "The people want to drop the corruption and despotism" .

Also, the protesters demanded a parliamentary monarchy and raised pictures of Moroccan personalities that called them to go, especially Ali Hima, newly appointed as director of King Mohamed VI , as militants 20F for no "promises no possibility of change in the country. "

This is the first protest organized by the 20F after the breakup of Justice and Charity on 19 December with this movement.

Meanwhile, a dozen monarchist tried to deal with young leftists and chanted slogans Moroccan national anthem "God, Country and King", in an attempt to silence the protesters chanted "Long live the people." Meanwhile, the forces involved in forming a belt up to prevent contacts between young protesters and monarchist.

Secular

The Islamist movement, which constituted the bulk of the protesters, attributed his decision to ideological reasons for the secular nature of the promoters of the youth movement and because, according to Islamists, 20F and not get the desired goals and became "a means of outpouring of popular anger. "

The Islamist movement last month joined the Moroccan version of the " Arab Spring "and had a continuous presence of their young massive street demonstrations in a strange alliance of leftists and Islamists who shared only the slogans" against corruption and despotism ".

In fact, different manifestations held almost weekly since last February in Morocco, Justice and Charity youths marched together but not mixed with leftist protesters 20F.

The people want to drop the corruption and despotism

According to vice president of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, Abdelilah Ben Abdeslam , who attended the march, this rally, "said the ongoing process of the claims of 20F until their demands are heard."

One member of the 20F, Omar Radi, said that the movement's demands revolve around "more democracy , separation of powers and freedom ", but questioned whether" the new constitution or new government going to do some of these claims. "

The president of the new government, the Islamist Abdelilah Benkiran , secretary general of the Justice and Development Party, winner of the November 25 legislative, has repeatedly expressed its willingness to dialogue with the 20F.

In other cities such as Tangier and Casablanca, the presence was massive, according to organizers, in Casablanca and was marked by the participation of leftist intellectuals and artists.