On November 25, 2023, thirteen Moroccan activists participated in a peaceful protest in front of a Carrefour store in the city of Salé. The demonstration aimed to denounce the sale of products originating from Israeli settlements and to demand the termination of commercial partnerships with companies complicit in the occupation.

In a troubling escalation, Moroccan authorities responded by pursuing these activists through judicial means, culminating in harsh sentences issued in absentia by the Rabat Court of Appeal.

 Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) expresses its deep concern and unequivocal condemnation of this judicial campaign, which targets activists for exercising their legitimate right to peaceful protest and civil expression. The fact that these sentences were issued without the presence of the accused or their legal representatives, and without affording them the opportunity to defend themselves, constitutes a clear denial of justice and due process.

 WJWC views this as part of a broader policy aimed at suppressing voices that oppose normalization with the Israeli occupation and that stand in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. These actions run counter to Morocco’s international human rights commitments, particularly those enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Specifically, the sentencing violates Article 19 on freedom of expression, Article 21 on the right to peaceful assembly, and Article 22 on freedom of association.

 The organization also draws attention to the United Nations Human Rights Committee’s General Comments No. 34 and 37, which affirm that calls for boycott and participation in peaceful protests are forms of protected expression. Criminalizing such acts contradicts international legal standards and undermines the right of individuals and civil society to peacefully oppose policies they consider unjust.

 Further concern arises from reports of violations that accompanied the protest and subsequent detention procedures. These include the documented assault of protesters, including persons with visual impairments, instances of ill-treatment during detention, the manipulation of official records, and a general failure to investigate or address these abuses. Such practices reflect a wider pattern of repression and the misuse of state institutions to intimidate and silence dissenting voices.

 WJWC welcomes the attention of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which has expressed concern over the judicial proceedings and has sought explanations from Moroccan authorities regarding the excessive use of force and violations of legal guarantees. The Council reiterated that peaceful protest and boycott are forms of civil expression that must be protected under international law, not criminalized.

 Women Journalists Without Chains considers the targeting of boycott activists and anti-normalization advocates not only a violation of fundamental rights but also an alarming concession to external pressures aimed at stifling solidarity with Palestine. Such actions serve only to erode public trust, foster fear, and restrict what remains of Morocco’s civic space.

 Accordingly, WJWC calls on Moroccan authorities to immediately drop all charges against the thirteen activists and halt any further prosecution related to their peaceful activism. The organization urges the government to conduct a thorough, impartial investigation into the violations committed against the protesters and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. It also calls on Moroccan authorities to uphold their international obligations to protect freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the right to boycott, while guaranteeing that civil society organizations can operate without threat or defamation.

 In conclusion, WJWC affirms that opposing normalization and standing in defense of Palestinian rights are not crimes. These are legitimate expressions of conscience and a reflection of the people’s right to reject injustice, occupation, and systemic discrimination. The organization urges all defenders of human rights—within Morocco and internationally—to stand in solidarity with the persecuted activists and to reaffirm the right to boycott as a peaceful and principled form of resistance.

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Women Journalists Without Chains

April 9, 2025