{"id":428249,"date":"2011-05-22T21:18:13","date_gmt":"2011-05-22T21:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/05\/22\/moroccan-police-beat-up-protesters\/"},"modified":"2011-05-22T21:18:13","modified_gmt":"2011-05-22T21:18:13","slug":"moroccan-police-beat-up-protesters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/22\/moroccan-police-beat-up-protesters\/","title":{"rendered":"Moroccan police beat up protesters"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Police in Morocco have violently dispersed protesters who defied a ban on demonstrations, beating them up with batons and taking several into custody.<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s police action in the capital, Rabat, and Casablanca seemed to suggest a tougher government response to the increasingly defiant protests that first erupted in February.<\/p>\n

“Protest is a legal right, why is the Makhzen afraid?” crowds in Casablanca chanted, referring to the royal court. “Makhzen get out. Down with despotism.”<\/p>\n

A Reuters correspondent saw seven riot police attacking one bearded man in his 30s, repeatedly hitting his head and body, causing severe bleeding.<\/p>\n

“We have been called here to preserve order because of this unauthorised protest,” said a senior police officer on the scene who declined to give his name.<\/p>\n

Protesters wanted to camp in front of the parliament in Rabat, but authorities were anxious to avoid a repeat of the events in Cairo earlier this year when protesters occupying the Egyptian capital’s Tahrir Square eventually helped topple the government.<\/p>\n

‘Together for dignity’<\/strong><\/p>\n

In both the Rabat and Casablanca, police armed with batons and shields moved people off the streets wherever they gathered. Protesters broke off into smaller groups, often with police chasing behind.<\/p>\n

Demonstrators said police beat dozens in Casablanca.<\/p>\n

“We are standing together for dignity,” one protest leaflet said. “We are against despotism, against corruption. We are for dignity, freedom, democracy and social justice.”<\/p>\n

Long seen as a relatively moderate and stable state, Morocco has experienced increasing unrest this year inspired by successful uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.<\/p>\n

In recent months, protesters seeking more democratic rights and economic benefits have held several nationwide protests in the country of 32 million, resulting in at least six deaths.<\/p>\n

The royal family has ruled Morocco since the 17th century and survived both French colonial rule and independence.<\/p>\n

Morocco has the lowest per capita GDP in the Maghreb region that also includes Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria. Many live in poverty and nearly half of the population is illiterate.<\/p>\n

In response to the public protests, the king announced in March that he would amend the constitution to allow more democratic rights. A commission is due to announce its draft constitution next month.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

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