What you need to know about Morocco's recent protests
Protests in Morocco are about more than the death of a fish vendor — they are about social and economic justice.
The death of Mouhcine Fikri, a Moroccan fish vendor who was crushed alive in a garbage compactor while apparently trying to prevent the destruction of a swordfish that had been taken from him in Al-Hoceima, has sparked outrage after a video of the incident was widely circulated Oct. 28. This unleashed a round of demonstrations.
Moroccan authorities said that the 1,100-pound swordfish Fikri had been selling is banned from sale because it had been declared out of season in an attempt to conserve fish stocks.
Authorities have called Fikri’s death an involuntary homicide, and 11 people have been called to appear in court. However, activists say the officer who was next to the garbage truck ordered the driver to smash Fikri when he jumped in after his fish, hoping to save his merchandise. Activists are using a hashtag that translates to #CrushHim.
A journalist who has been associated with the February 20 protest movement has been trying to make waves about the matter.
