The National Brigade of Judicial Police in Morocco interrogated the secretary-general of the Workers’ Democratic Way Party, Jamal Barajaa, on Friday, May 15, over a speech he gave last August during an event protesting normalization with Israel, in the city of Tangier.
The party said in a statement that the Public Prosecution considered Barajaa’s calls for ending normalization with Israel “incitement”.
The party’s local secretary in Tangier, Hassan Mghabar, and the member of the local board of the same branch, Sayyad Bendahman, were also summoned during the same period and questioned over allegedly calling for the overthrow of the Moroccan political regime (locally known as the Makhzen).
The party slammed the authorities for summoning its members, considering such measures part of “blockade and restrictions” implemented against it. The Democratic Way explained that it was also denied access to public halls to hold its upcoming congress scheduled between July 24 and 26, 2026.
My speech voiced the political stance of the party within the limits of freedom of expression, says Barajaa
For his part, Barajaa spoke to local news outlet Larache upon his release, confirming that the anti-normalization speech he was interrogated about reflected the stance of the Democratic Way Party within the limits of freedom of expression, and did not represent any form of incitement.
The Democratic Way leader criticized the Makhzen, the Moroccan word for the monarchy-dominated regime in the country, for its “long and systematic crackdown” on his party. He also emphasized that his party will continue upholding its principles and the struggle in solidarity with the working class, until real democracy, justice, and equality are achieved.
Arab and African left parties and groups confirm their solidarity with the Democratic Way
In response to the repressive measures taken against the secretary-general and members of the Democratic Way, 15 Arab and African left parties and groups issued a joint solidarity statement on Sunday, May 17.
The parties denounced the targeting of the three comrades as “an inherent practice of the Makhzen”, which from their point of view “proves its fear and confusion from the growing indignation and outrage against subordination, tyranny and corruption policies on different levels.”
The signatories of the statement include the Workers’ Party of Tunisia, the Mauritanian Workers’ Party (PTM), the Lebanese Communist Party (LCP), Jordanian Democratic People’s Party, Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party (Wihda), Democratic Patriots’ Unified Party of Tunisia, the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders in Western Sahara (CODESA), the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP), the Jordanian Communist Party (JCP), the Palestinian People’s Party (PPP), the Modernist Democratic Pole of Tunisia, the Socialist Party of Tunisia, the Bread and Freedom Party (under establishment) in Egypt, and the Socialist Popular Alliance Party of Egypt.
Makhzen**’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists after Abraham Accords**
It is worth noting that the Moroccan authorities have intensified their crackdown campaign against pro-Palestinian activists in the last several years, especially after Rabat signed the Abraham Accords with Tel Aviv in 2020.
The authorities have further escalated their repression against anti-normalization protesters in the aftermath of Israel’s genocidal aggression on Gaza, with many being detained and fined.
Read more: Moroccan court sentences pro-Palestine activist Ismail Al-Ghazawi to one year in prison
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