Morocco Urges Youth Engagement While Repressing Pro-Palestine Dissent
ABC News reports Morocco's religious affairs ministry has ordered imams to preach on youth engagement following widespread protests. This push for 'meaningful participation' arrives after demonstrations where thousands demanded Rabat sever ties with Israel, following the 2020 normalization deal—a deal brokered by the US and tied to Washington recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Curiously, official sermons on 'public affairs' rarely include critique of foreign policy or the erosion of democratic space for dissent, especially concerning Palestine. It's almost as if 'participation' is only welcome when it aligns with state policy, rather than challenging the normalization of relations with a government accused of genocide. One might wonder if the youth are encouraged to
participate in public life or just public relations for the ruling apparatus. The timing, post-protests, strongly suggests the latter. Their 'participation' is curated, not genuinely encouraged.