Human rights group protests land expropriation in Sidi Bouknadel

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (Salé branch) conducted a field visit to the Western El Hanacha area in Sidi Bouknadel to investigate reports of rights violations affecting local residents. The association reported that hundreds of hectares of communal lands are being expropriated to facilitate industrial and economic projects.

According to the association, these operations have included the demolition of homes, the uprooting of trees, and the destruction of agricultural crops. The group criticized the compensation offered for the land as being significantly below its actual value, causing severe damage to the livelihoods and dignity of the local population.

The association has called for the immediate release of a local farmer and his son, who are facing trial in the Salé Court of First Instance. The organization is demanding that authorities open a dialogue with the affected residents, conduct a fair census of victims, provide compensation based on true market values, and ensure adequate housing for those displaced.