Morocco is in mourning and turmoil as nationwide protests over deteriorating public services continue to escalate, leaving at least three people dead, including a 25-year-old film student, Abdessamad Oubella.
For over a week, the country has witnessed daily demonstrations, largely driven by young people demanding urgent reforms in the health and education sectors. The movement began after eight pregnant women died while awaiting Caesarean sections at a public hospital in Agadir — a tragedy that ignited national outrage.
Among those killed in the ensuing unrest was Abdessamad, who was fatally shot overnight from Wednesday to Thursday in Lqliaa, near Agadir in southern Morocco. Two others also lost their lives in the same incident.
Authorities claimed that the group involved had attempted to attack security forces to seize weapons and ammunition, a statement many protesters dispute.
For Abdessamad’s father, Abdelkabir Oubella, the pain is unbearable.
“I came across a video where my son appeared — I didn’t even know it was him,” he told AFP, standing among grieving villagers in Adouz Oussaoud, near Lqliaa, shortly after burying his son in a simple wooden coffin.
His brother, Ayoub, insisted that Abdessamad was not part of the violence:
“My brother was there to document what was happening. He didn’t throw stones, he didn’t take part in the unrest.”
According to the family, Abdessamad was struck by a bullet to the head — a stark reminder of the growing tension between protesters and authorities.
The protests are being mobilized online by a youth-led collective known as GenZ 212, which has already called for fresh rallies in 22 cities on Sunday night.
As the movement grows, many are calling for accountability and long-overdue reforms to prevent further bloodshed and restore faith in Morocco’s public institutions.
this is bad