Fishmonger’s death ‘manslaughter’: Moroccan authorities

By Anas Mezzour

RABAT (AA) – Moroccan public prosecutors on Tuesday ruled that the death of a local fishmonger last week in the northern town of Al-Hoceima -- which sparked days of countrywide protests -- constituted an act of "involuntary manslaughter".

Last Friday, a video showing Mohsen Fikri, 31, being crushed to death by a garbage truck while trying to stop security forces from confiscating his fish was widely shared on online social-media platforms.

The incident prompted protests -- some of which are still underway -- across the country.

Judicial officials on Tuesday denied that the authorities were responsible for Fikri’s death after activists on social media accused security officers of intentionally "crushing" the vendor.

Morocco’s judicial authorities are now looking into the case, read a statement issued by public prosecutors, who have since referred 11 people -- including two security officers -- to interrogation over the incident.

In a previous statement, Fikri’s father told the media that the authorities had ensured him that those found responsible for his son’s death would be held to account.

Fikri’s death has triggered a storm of outrage across the North African country amid calls by rights groups to hold demonstrations to demand an end to alleged rights violations by the Moroccan authorities.