A new wave of defiance is sweeping through Morocco as young people, led largely by Generation Z activists, take to the streets to demand the release of over a thousand demonstrators detained in recent anti-corruption protests. Despite government crackdowns, intimidation, and mass arrests, the movement has reignited across cities from Casablanca to Agadir, signaling that the country’s younger generation is unwilling to remain silent in the face of systemic corruption and injustice.

A month after Morocco witnessed some of its largest protests in years, demonstrators returned over the weekend under the rallying cry #Free_Koulchi-meaning “free everyone.” The slogan has now become synonymous with the growing youth-led movement demanding justice, reform, and accountability from a government that many say has long ignored their grievances.

The recent unrest can be traced back to a tragic incident in the southern city of Agadir. In early September, eight pregnant women reportedly died at a local hospital due to poor medical conditions and a lack of adequate care. The tragedy sparked outrage on social media, particularly among Morocco’s youth, who already viewed the country’s health and education systems as symbols of deep-seated government neglect.

What began as a small, localized protest outside the hospital soon grew into a nationwide movement calling for reform. Demonstrations spread rapidly across major urban centers and smaller towns alike, with tens of thousands demanding an end to corruption, improved public services, and justice for those failed by the system.

But the government’s response was swift and harsh. Security forces deployed heavily in protest zones, arresting thousands and dispersing gatherings with force.

According to the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH), more than 2,100 protesters have been arrested since demonstrations began on September 27, including 330 minors. Of these, about 1,400 remain in detention, while hundreds have already been sentenced to prison terms ranging from six months to 15 years.

AMDH condemned the government’s tactics, accusing authorities of........

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