February 20 protesters share memories скачать в хорошем качестве

February 20 protesters share memories

(19 Feb 2019) LEADIN: It's eight years since the February 20th movement swept across Morocco, calling for an end to corruption, greater democracy and social justice. On the anniversary of the day it started, those who were involved have been sharing their memories. STORYLINE: Sitting in front of his computer, Tarik Saiidi looks back at his work. The 38 year-old is a cinema lover and documentary maker who once had dreams of becoming a major film director: "When you face in front of you corruption that limits your dreams and destroys your ambition as a young creative person in this country, of course you sympathise with movements," he says. Facing too many challenges to be able to live his dream, he took to the streets. That was in February 2011. While the Arab Spring was spreading in the region, Morocco's pro-democracy February 20 movement spearheaded the country's own version of the uprising and sent the centuries-old monarchy scrambling to reform. Saiidi was part of the protests. "The first time I protested in February 20, I saw a dreadful image. Where were all of these Moroccans? Where do all these people come from?" he says. "Even the authorities were surprised that all Moroccans were out protesting, expressing their problems and sufferings. Of course the Moroccan who could afford to protested. Because there were Moroccans who couldn't do it because they were afraid," he says. Among those who were not scared to protest was 30 year-old Sara Soujar. Before the movement, she was already passionate about making changes. She was part of a group of young women campaigning for democracy and joined the protests as soon as the February 20 movement was visible. Holding up a newspaper she shows a photograph of a demonstration she took part in organised by the women of February 20. "We protested, starting on February 20 and in March the King gave a speech, which many people call a historic speech. After that came the constitution. After the constitution, a referendum. After the referendum, an election," she says. In March 2011 King Mohammed VI agreed to amend the constitution, bowing to long-made demands from political parties. Under the new constitution the prime minister has more powers and comes from the party that won the most votes. But, on the eighth anniversary of the movement, Morocco's problems are far from solved and Soujar people have become more fearful of demonstrating. "You face 20 years of prison because of demanding for your rights," she says. "We follow what is happening on social media. A like or comment can lead you to prison. We see that people who protest in the streets can go to prison. And I feel that I don't protest the way I used to. Before, I could participate in any protest, any march. Now, I don't. I calculate more," explains Soujar. She's referring to the convictions of a charismatic protest movement leader, Nasser Zefzafi, and three other activists. They were all given the maximum prison sentence of 20 years over mass demonstrations after a fish seller was crushed to death by a refuse disposal truck. Zefzafi, who was arrested in June 2017 after a manhunt, quickly became the movement's public face, demanding development and the creation of jobs in the Rif region, which has lagged economically. The February 20 movement was also a way for many to strengthen their beliefs. Mustapha Mouchtari, is a parliamentary employee. He works in the administration of the Islamist party, the Party of Justice and Development (PJD) and is also a member. Before the movement, he was a leader of the party's youth movement. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...