Ismail Lghazaoui, a pro-Palestine BDS activist, was released by a Moroccan court after an international outcry. Initially sentenced to one year in prison for encouraging a blockade against the US embassy, his sentence was reduced to two months, already served. The case illustrates ongoing struggles faced by anti-normalization activists in Morocco.
A Moroccan court has released Ismail Lghazaoui, a noted pro-Palestine activist, in response to significant international pressure advocating for his freedom. The appeal court in Casablanca reduced his initial one-year sentence for advocating a blockade of the US embassy over its support for Israel to a two-month term, which he had already served by February 5.
The detention of Ismail Lghazaoui, a key figure in Morocco’s Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, began on November 19, 2024, after he urged the public to prevent Maersk cargo ships from allegedly transporting military supplies to Israel. Following widespread protests and statements from global BDS groups condemning Morocco’s repressive actions against pro-Palestine activists, Lghazaoui’s release underscores ongoing tensions regarding Morocco’s normalization of ties with Israel initiated in December 2020.
The release of Ismail Lghazaoui highlights the tensions surrounding Morocco’s pro-Palestine activists amidst governmental crackdowns on dissent related to the normalization with Israel. His case, marked by international advocacy, reflects broader struggles faced by pro-Palestine activists in the region. Lghazaoui’s mother expressed a plea for continued awareness and action for the freedom of all political prisoners.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
