Moroccan activists on trial for criticism of earthquake response: Lawyer

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Four activists defending victims of the 2023 earthquake in Morocco appeared in court Monday to face charges including defamation, their lawyer told AFP.

His lawyer, Mohamed Nouini, said that Said Ait Mehdi, head of the Coordination of Victims of the Al Haouz Earthquake, appeared before a court in Marrakesh “on charges of defamation, insult, and spreading false allegations aimed at violating the privacy of individuals.”

Al-Nouini said that while Ait Mehdi has been in detention for a week, the other three defendants, who face charges of “insulting public officials,” remain at large.

The lawyer said that the accusations came after local officials filed complaints against the activists over social media posts they considered offensive.

Al-Nouini said that Ait Mehdi's defense submitted a request for his release pending trial on January 6.

Al Haouz Province, south of Marrakesh, was the worst-hit region when a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck in September 2023, killing nearly 3,000 people and injuring thousands more.

The earthquake destroyed tens of thousands of homes in central Morocco, including the High Atlas Mountains, forcing families to sleep outdoors during the winter.

Ait Mehdi Group called for accelerating reconstruction efforts and providing greater support to families affected by the earthquake.

As of early December, Moroccan authorities had issued about 57,000 reconstruction permits.

The government said in a statement on December 2 that more than 35,000 homes have been completed or are under construction.

Following the earthquake, Moroccan authorities announced a five-year reconstruction plan with an estimated budget of $11.7 billion.

About $740 million in funding has been allocated to help affected families rebuild their homes, with the funds to be distributed in installments.

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