Hundreds of protesters in Morocco demand 'dignity'

21 Nov, 2016

Hundreds of people protested on Saturday, demanding justice for a fishmonger whose grisly death sparked outrage nation-wide, while calling for "dignity".
"Freedom, justice" and "Long live the people!" cried demonstrators in the northern city of Al-Hoceima, where Mouhcine Fikri, 31, died last month.
He was crushed to death in a garbage truck as he tried to protest against the seizure and destruction of swordfish, which are not allowed to be caught at this time of year.
"The royal palace is humiliating us," the protesters chanted, according to amateur live footage posted online.
A string of protests have erupted over the fish seller's death on October 28. King Mohammed VI was quick to order a "thorough and exhaustive investigation" into Fikri's death and sent the interior minister to offer condolences to his family.
Saturday's protest organisers said 3,000 people attended the demonstration, while local authorities put the count at 800.
Some of the demonstrators carried Amazigh, or Berber flags, others waved pictures of a white dove as a symbol of non-violent protest. "Dignity", "justice" and "freedom" read some of the banners held up by the protesters.

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