Morocco NGOs Launch Campaign to Free Jailed Activists

Moroccan human rights groups on Thursday announced the launch of a national campaign to free more than 70 "political prisoners," particularly jailed members of the "February 20" protest movement.

The movement was formed last year during the mass uprisings sweeping the region by youths demanding democratic reform and action on a wide range of social grievances.

A coalition of 18 Moroccan rights groups and the National Council for the Support of the February 20 Movement (CNAM) presented a report to journalists in Rabat giving the details of more than 70 opposition activists currently in jail.

The two organizations called for "national mobilization and international pressure" to obtain their release, denouncing "systematic repression" towards them.

They also demanded that the government shed light on the circumstances leading to the deaths of activists last year.

"The authorities have all the evidence to reveal the truth about the fate of these young people," said Mohamed Laaouni, CNAM's coordinator.

Five members of the opposition movement were killed on February 20, 2011 when the protests first erupted in Morocco.

Their charred bodies were found inside a bank in the northern town of al-Hoceima, according to the interior minister at the time, who described the activists as "troublemakers."

The families of the victims have insisted they were killed by Moroccan security forces.