Morocco: Portraits of a Protest
This post is part of our special coverage Morocco Protests 2011.
With camera and smart phones proliferating throughout Morocco, it is no longer difficult to take a look inside the country, at anything from its stunning nature to its epic cities. Yesterday, as protests were organized throughout the country, was no exception.
Few captured the February 20, 2011 protests as beautifully as Omar El Hyani, whose photos from Rabat were linked to by online newspaper The Nation and posted on the Moroccan independent news portal Mamfakinch (see the entire series here [fr]).
Banner reads: "No to a ruler who steals public money".
Banner reads: "Yes for a constitutional monarchy". The smaller sign says: "Democracy now!"
Protesters wave the Moroccan flag.
Banner reads: "Holding those who steal money and abuse human rights accountable".
Banner reads: "If you speak, you will die; and if you keep quiet, you will die. So speak up and die!"
This post is part of our special coverage Morocco Protests 2011.
2 comments
As Ghandi famously put it “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, and then you win!”.
The regime in Morocco has ignored royally (how appropriate of an expression here!!) the legitimate aspirations of its people. Then they started laughing, ridiculing and discrediting the peoples’ demands. The next logical step is to see a profound change in the way Moroccans are governed.
The Makhzen is extremely slow at reacting and addressing legitimate grievances of its people. It will always be one step behind, always trying to catch up.
The Moroccan monarchy has to give up a lot of its privileges and powers if it were to survive.
The “poppy spring” (printemps des coquelicots) is very here to stay!!!!!
There are some people who want to destroy this country.. There are some cowards who are excited for the choas. I believe we are a different country, we are a different generation, we grew up differently and we don’t want any thugs to ruin our Beloved Morocco, this countrey has the chance to be different: it is a country that needs a correction, not a rebuild. and this Change must begin with each of us, is to assume its responsibilities and be aware of their rights, because often the principle of citizenship is linked only to human rights, but we forget that citizenship is first of all duties which we must discharge. In one sentence like in a thousand, Morocco does not need to lead the revolution against his king but with him.
whoever wants democracy , start by learning to queue, to wait your turn instead of always thinking of doubling, pushing , start by learning how to do you work in a good way , start by not corrupting every one to get what you want , start with not throwing garbage everywhere, start by voting instead to sell your voices to the highest bidder then protest to get this gouvernement that you choose out. those are the first rules which shows the difference between a civilized and a savage.
The ignorants who went out yesterday for vandalizing and sow terror, ‘You self-inflict what the enemy inflicts on his enemy! King makes us move a step forward and you makes us move three steps back! sensationalism is not to revolte like others! and follow the wave , sensationalism is to work,to innovate and work to make Morocco an eternal EXCEPTION!!
We proclaim to the world that we live here, with this slogan: God, Fatherland, King! Our Sovereign is an example for the puppets and proxies in the Arab world. God Bless Morocco, and our king .
reaction of a girl from Morocco