"Police detained dozens of people on Monday in Morocco, according to a local rights group and news agencies, as they sought to quash a third day of protests calling for education and health reforms. A heavy security presence was seen in cities such as the capital Rabat and Morocco's largest city Casablanca as well as in Agadir, Tangier and Oujda. Authorities have been trying to prevent groups of young people from gathering since online calls circulated for protests over the weekend."
"Both AFP and Reuters news agencies cite journalists and witnesses as reporting seeing police arrest dozens of young protesters who were trying to chant slogans or speak to the press in Rabat. Rights activists arrested The president of a child protection association, Najat Anouar, was arrested as she was speaking to media and released two hours later. "I came here to investigate allegations that the under-age have been arrested and got arrested myself," she told Reuters. Hakim Sikouk, president of the Rabat branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, or AMDH, said there were "more than 60 arrests in Rabat" and an unknown number in the cities of Casablanca, Agadir, Oujda and Meknes."
"AMDH said earlier that the arrests "confirm the crackdown on free voices and restriction of the right to freedom of expression." Police reportedly arrested more than 100 people over the weekend in Rabat, Sikouk said, and dozens elsewhere as young Moroccans took to the streets of at least 11 cities. On Sunday night in Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, protesters briefly blocked a major highway. In Agadir, videos circulating on social media showed police dispersing students near the university campus. The majority of protesters detained over the weekend had been released, Sikouk sa"
Dozens of people were detained across Morocco during a third day of protests demanding education and health reforms. Heavy security was deployed in Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Tangier and Oujda to prevent groups of young people from gathering after online calls for demonstrations. Journalists and witnesses reported police arresting young protesters who tried to chant slogans or speak to the press. Rights activists including Najat Anouar and members of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights were arrested and later released. Rights groups reported more than 60 arrests in Rabat and said the detentions reflect a crackdown on freedom of expression. Some detainees from weekend demonstrations were later released.
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