Ismail Lghazaoui Released: A Pro-Palestine Activist’s Victory Amid…

A Moroccan court has released Ismail Lghazaoui, a pro-Palestine activist, following international pressure for his freedom. Initially sentenced to one year for advocating against U.S.-Israeli relations, his sentence was reduced to two months. His release drew support from activists demanding the liberation of other political prisoners in the country amid ongoing repression of dissent against the normalization with Israel.

A Moroccan court has released Ismail Lghazaoui, a notable pro-Palestine activist, following widespread international protests demanding his freedom. Lghazaoui, affiliated with Morocco’s Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, was released on February 5 after an appeal court in Casablanca reduced his sentence to two months, which he had already served. Previously, he was sentenced to one year in prison for advocating a blockade of the US embassy over its support of Israel.

The 34-year-old activist’s detention on November 19, 2024, followed calls for the blockade of Maersk cargo ships suspected of carrying military supplies to Israel. Lghazaoui additionally urged a blockade of the US embassy during a protest in October, asserting that the United States condoned Israel’s actions in Gaza. In the lead-up to his appeal trial, global BDS movements issued statements condemning his imprisonment and criminalization of dissent against normalizing relations with Israel.

Following his release, supporters, including pro-Palestine activists, gathered outside Oukacha prison in Casablanca. Lghazaoui’s mother, instrumental in the campaign for his release, took the opportunity to call for the liberation of other pro-Palestine detainees. “I call for the release of all prisoners of conscience and for the liberation of all Palestinian hostages in Israeli prisons,” she stated as they awaited his emergence from prison.

As Lghazaoui stepped out, the crowd celebrated, brandishing Palestinian flags and chanting slogans like “Your only crime is speaking the truth.” Since the beginning of the Gaza conflict, numerous anti-normalization activists in Morocco have encountered legal challenges. Last December, a Moroccan court sentenced 13 pro-Palestine activists to suspended sentences for unauthorized protests against Carrefour, a retailer linked to operations in Israeli settlements.

Additionally, Abdul Rahman Zankad received a five-year sentence in April 2024 due to Facebook posts condemning Israel’s actions and Morocco’s normalization with Tel Aviv, while Said Boukioud was sentenced to three years for social media criticisms of the monarchy and the normalization agreement. Following Morocco’s establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel in December 2020, pro-Palestine factions have alleged increasing governmental repression to stifle dissent that opposes the normalization agreement despite the ongoing humanitarian crises in Gaza.

The article discusses the implications of Ismail Lghazaoui’s release from prison in Morocco, highlighting the tensions between pro-Palestine activism and governmental responses to dissent. Lghazaoui’s case embodies the broader issues surrounding the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel, which began in December 2020 under U.S. influence. The international uproar over Lghazaoui’s imprisonment illustrates the challenges faced by activists and the suppression of pro-Palestine sentiments within Moroccan society.

The release of Ismail Lghazaoui underscores the significant international attention surrounding pro-Palestine activism in Morocco. His case not only reflects governmental responses to dissenting voices but also the ongoing tensions regarding Morocco’s diplomatic relationship with Israel. As pro-Palestine activists continue to face legal repercussions, the call for justice and freedom for all political prisoners in Morocco remains urgent.

Original Source: www.newarab.com