Human Rights Watch on Wednesday condemned the excessive use of force by Moroccan security forces to disperse protesters, raising concerns over human rights violations during mass youth-led demonstrations demanding sweeping reforms to public services. The protests have been met with a heavy-handed response from authorities, leaving several protesters injured or dead, and hundreds detained.

The police and Royal Gendarmerie responded by banning protests and dispersing crowds using water cannons and lethal force, which only fueled the nationwide wave of unrest. Hanan Salah, associate Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said:

Morocco’s youth are voicing their dissent over the state of health care and education in their country. The government should heed protesters’ calls and replace repressive tactics with public engagement and wide-ranging reforms.

Three people were killed and dozens were injured. Security forces reportedly arrested more than 400 people across the country since late September 2025 and brought criminal cases against at least 270 protesters, including 39 children. According to news reports, security forces’ van injured at least two people in Oujda, including 17-year-old Wassim Eltaibi, whose mother told reporters he needed urgent medical treatment, and 19-year-old Amine Boussada, whose father said his left leg had been amputated.

The Moroccan authorities characterized the demonstrations as a security challenge and deployed the Royal Gendarmerie and public security forces to restore order. Authorities have not released a public accounting of casualties or independent timelines for investigations into deadly incidents.

As the protests grew, King Mohammed VI acknowledged the unrest in public remarks and called for accelerated social and economic reforms aimed at creating employment, improving public amenities, and reducing regional inequalities, even though he did not address the protests directly.

HRW condemned the actions of the security forces as a flagrant violation of international human rights standards of which require the authorities to minimize harm and protect life at all times.

The youth movement, identifying itself as “GenZ212,” erupted across the country since September 27, staging nightly demonstrations and calling for deeper investment in healthcare, education, jobs, and anti-corruption measures.