Rabat – A Moroccan Court of Appeal has today decided to increase the duration of the prison sentence that the activist previously handed over over a year.
The court has also changed its initial judgment of the other three members of the previously acquitted Al Haouz -Erdbieben -Sacroboalition in order to condemn them to three months in prison for insulting officials.
The court on January 13th hand over Ait Mahdi, who heads the organization, said three months in prison. Ait Mahdi was also instructed to pay every civil party involved for damages for MAD 10,000 ($ 1,000).
The activist was charged with defamation and publication of false claims that had violated privacy, mainly and at the same time criticized the handling of earthquakes in the Marrakech region by the local authorities.
The case goes back to the consequences of the devastating earthquake of 6.8 in height, which Marrakech met in September 2023.
The state has proven its quick reaction to the natural disaster and quickly reacted to the needs of the population in the region.
The devastating earthquake in Morocco, with almost 3,000 deaths, destroyed over 5,600 injuries and approximately 60,000 houses, especially in the High Atlas Mountain region.
Many survivors were forced to live in temporary tent accommodation over a longer period of time.
The province of Al Haouz near Marrakech experienced the most serious destruction. Local organizations such as that of AIT Mahdi have campaigned for an accelerated reconstruction and strengthened the support of the families concerned.
By the beginning of December 2024, the Moroccan authorities had granted 57,000 reconstruction permits, pointing out official reports that over 35,000 houses were either completed or completed in the process of reconstruction.
Read too: Report: Al Haouz earthquake shook the feeling of the nation’s willingness
The government was proactively in its reaction and prepared approximately 140,000 (equivalent of $ 14,000) per family to support reconstruction at home.
However, challenges have appeared During the recovery process. The Ministry of the Interior announced in January that more than 27 people were victims of fraud, which were committed by various construction companies.
In order to manage the reconstruction efforts, an interministerial committee was set up to monitor rehabilitation and reconstruction of processes.
The financial support was widespread, and 63,766 families who received monthly financial support.
In addition, the government has committed $ 800 million (approx. $ 79.29 million) to improve and expand health facilities in the earthquakes affected.
