Judgments and sentences issued over acts of violence and destruction during unauthorized protests in several Moroccan cities were delivered “within a reasonable timeframe” and in full respect of due process, a senior judicial official has said.
Hassan Farhan, a magistrate at the Presidency of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, told reporters on Tuesday that all stages of investigation and trial adhered to the guarantees of a fair trial, dismissing claims of forced confessions or rushed proceedings.
He emphasized that interrogation records were prepared in strict accordance with legal procedures. “Contrary to what some are deliberately circulating, there were no coerced statements,” he said, adding that all defendants had access to legal counsel and were able to contact their families.
Farhan noted that ongoing cases were largely due to requests from the defence for additional time to prepare pleas. He said sentences handed down in some criminal cases did not exceed 15 years, despite the gravity of the crimes, which could legally attract penalties of up to 30 years.
Courts took into consideration the social and personal circumstances of defendants, including their lack of prior criminal records, he said. Some cases remain under judicial investigation as procedures continue.
Following the late-September unrest, thousands were arrested. Farhan said that after verification, 3,300 people were released, including many minors who were returned to their guardians.
However, 2,480 individuals accused of serious crimes—such as violence against police, vandalism, arson, and armed gatherings—were referred to public prosecutors’ offices in cities including Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Tangier, and Oujda.
Investigations, he said, revealed sufficient evidence showing that some participants committed serious offenses punishable under the penal code, including assaulting public officials, looting, destruction of property, arson, and obstruction of roads.
Farhan insisted that security forces acted lawfully during their interventions, with the aim of protecting citizens and property amid incidents that resulted in injuries to officers and significant material damage.
According to official figures, public prosecutors decided to pursue legal action against 2,480 defendants—959 of whom were tried while free and 1,473 held in custody. Several were later released after receiving suspended sentences or acquittals. Proceedings were dropped against 48 defendants after review of evidence.
As of October 27, 66 individuals were tried by criminal courts of first instance, resulting in 61 convictions and 5 acquittals. Sentences ranged from one to 15 years, reflecting the courts’ application of mitigating circumstances based on defendants’ social conditions.
At the first-instance level, 301 rulings were issued against adults, with 208 prison sentences, 66 suspended sentences, and 27 acquittals. Courts also ruled in cases involving 162 minors, 83 of whom were handed over to their guardians.
The data, Farhan said, show that acquittals represented 11.4% of rulings by courts of first instance and nearly 10% at the appellate level—figures that, according to the judiciary, underscore the independence of the courts and the adherence to due process.
