Morocco boils over death of fish-seller

Protests have erupted in several towns in Morocco over the death of a fish seller crushed by a refuse lorry which was trying to retrieve fish confiscated by police.


The death of Mouhcine Fikri in the northern town of Al-Hoceima on Friday drew widespread anger on social media.

His death drew parallels to that of a Tunisian fruit seller in 2010 which helped spark the Arab Spring uprisings.

Morocco’s King Mohamed has ordered officials to visit Mr Fikri’s family. The interior and justice ministries have also pledged to hold an investigation. The anti-government protests, on a scale rare in Morocco, were called by activists of the February 20 movement, who organised demonstrations during the Arab Spring in 2011.

Angry postings on social media referred to “Hogra”, a term for official abuse and injustice.

“I have never seen such a crowd in the last few years, since 2011 at least,” said Houssin Lmrabet, an activist in the town of Imzouren where a protest followed the funeral of Mr Fikri.

“Everyone feels crushed by that garbage truck here.” Protests were also held in Al-Hoceima, Casablanca and the capital Rabat. Police had confiscated and destroyed Mr Fikri’s swordfish because it is not allowed to be fished at this time of the year, according to Moroccan media.


Video circulating on social media appears to show Mr Fikri jumping into the back of the refuse lorry to retrieve his fish, before being crushed to death by its compactor.

Interior Minister Mohamed Hassad vowed to hold a speedy investigation into exactly what had happened.