Moroccan Activist Sentenced to Prison for Earthquake Response Criticism

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — Said Ait Mahdi, a prominent Moroccan activist, was sentenced to three months in prison and fined over $1,000 on Monday after leading protests criticizing the government’s response to the devastating 2023 earthquake. The 32-year-old, who heads one of the most active organizations in the affected Al Haouz region, faced charges of defamation, assault, and inciting unauthorized demonstrations. The 6.8-magnitude earthquake in September 2023 claimed nearly 3,000 lives and left widespread destruction across the Al Haouz region. Recovery efforts have been slow, with many survivors still living in temporary shelters. Protests have erupted intermittently, accusing officials of mismanagement and neglect. Human rights advocates have condemned Ait Mahdi’s sentencing as politically motivated, arguing that it highlights the government’s intolerance of dissent in a time of crisis. He is the first activist from the region to receive such a penalty.