Nasser Zefzafi | |
---|---|
ⵏⴰⵚⴻⵕ ⵣⴼⵣⴰⴼⵉ (Riffian) | |
Born | |
Nationality | Moroccan |
Occupation(s) | Political Activist, human rights Activist |
Known for | Hirak Rif |
Nasser Zefzafi (Tamazight: ⵏⴰⵚⴻⵕ ⵣⴼⵣⴰⴼⵉ, born on November 4, 1979, in Al Hoceima)[1] is a Moroccan political activist and human rights activist. Known as the "Moroccan Gandhi" or "Moroccan Pasionaria" for his nonviolent protests, Zefzafi has been described as the leader of the popular resistance movement organized in the Rif in 2016–2017 as Hirak Rif.
On May 29, 2017, Zefzafi was arrested by the Moroccan police and charged with a list of crimes that included undermining state security, disrespecting the king, and receiving funds from abroad used for plots to destabilize the country.[2][3] On June 26, 2018, he received a 20-year imprisonment along with the other political activists after numerous cancelled trials since their detention.[4][5] The verdict created waves of social discontent and sparked outrage among Moroccans, including a wave of protests across the country.