MOROCCO HAS CHARGED MORE THAN 2,400 PEOPLE OVER RECENT YOUTH-LED PROTESTS THAT TURNED VIOLENT EARLIER THIS MONTH.

IT'S A SWEEPING RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE COUNTRY’S LARGEST ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN YEARS.

THE CHARGES INCLUDE ARMED REBELLION, INSULTING AND USING VIOLENCE AGAINST A PUBLIC OFFICIAL EXERCISING HIS DUTIES, AND INCITEMENT TO COMMIT FELONIES.

THE DEMONSTRATIONS TOOK MOROCCO BY SURPRISE AFTER A YOUTH-LED MOVEMENT CALLED GEN Z 212 MOBILIZED THOUSANDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PROTEST THE STATE OF PUBLIC SERVICES.

THE MOVEMENT, ORGANIZED ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS LIKE DISCORD, CRITICIZED GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON INFRASTRUCTURE TO HOST SPORTING EVENTS WHILE NEGLECTING SOCIAL SERVICES.

THE MOROCCAN ASSOCIATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DENOUNCED THE ARRESTS, CALLING THEM RANDOM.

GEN Z 212 ALSO DEMANDED THE RELEASE OF ALL THE PROTESTS' DETAINEES.

OF THE 2,480 CHARGED, 1,473 PEOPLE REMAIN IN CUSTODY AWAITING TRIAL.