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| Movimiento 20 de febrero | |
|---|---|
| Name | Movimiento 20 de febrero |
| Native name | Movimiento 20 de febrero |
| Formation | 2011 |
| Founded in | Morocco |
| Methods | Street protests, online activism, sit-ins |
| Status | Inactive/declined |
Movimiento 20 de febrero was a Moroccan protest movement that emerged in 2011 in the wider context of the Arab Spring, mobilizing citizens across cities such as Rabat, Casablanca, Fes, Marrakesh and Tangier. Inspired by contemporaneous uprisings including the Tunisian Revolution, the movement demanded political reforms related to the Constitution of Morocco, Monarchy of Morocco, and public institutions such as the Justice system in Morocco and the Parliament of Morocco. Activists used platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogs hosted on services including Blogger (service) to coordinate demonstrations and publicize grievances.
Movimiento 20 de febrero grew out of a local response to regional phenomena including the Jasmine Revolution and economic crises affecting cities like Agadir and Nador. Founding activists cited events such as the Bouazizi self-immolation and referenced regional movements like Kifaya (movement) and parties such as the Istiqlal Party and Justice and Development Party (Morocco). Early organizers included networks of youth activists linked to civic platforms like Anonymous (group)-style online campaigns, independent newspapers such as TelQuel, and human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch that reported on demonstrations and arrests.
The movement articulated demands for constitutional reform concerning the powers of the King of Morocco, expanded liberties tied to instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, anti-corruption measures responding to scandals involving business figures and institutions such as the Wali system, and socioeconomic rights touching regions like the Rif (Morocco). Its platform referenced international precedents including the Universal Suffrage principles and comparative examples from the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 and the Syrian Civil War as cautionary contrasts. Ideologically, participants ranged from secular activists with affinities to groups like the February 20 Movement (collective) to sympathizers of leftist currents associated with the Socialist Union of Popular Forces and liberals connected to media outlets such as Al Jazeera and BBC Arabic.
Organization was largely decentralized, resembling networks seen in movements such as Occupy Wall Street, Indignados, and the Green Movement (Iran). Coordination relied on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and messaging tools comparable to WhatsApp, combined with public assemblies in squares reminiscent of Tahrir Square. Tactics included mass marches, sit-ins outside institutions like the Parliament of Morocco and regional prefectures, hunger strikes modeled after actions in Tunisia and Egypt, and the circulation of manifestos analogous to the 14 February Youth Coalition notes. Cultural forms—street theater, music referencing artists featured on Arte (TV network), and graffiti—echoed protest art seen during the Gezi Park protests.
Key dates centered on 20 February 2011 actions that mirrored anniversaries of revolts such as the February 17 Revolution in Tunisia. Large rallies occurred in Rabat near the Mohammed V Mausoleum, in Casablanca around avenues named for figures like Mohammed V of Morocco, and in Fes adjacent to historic medina gates. Demonstrations coincided with the announcement of a new draft charter and the subsequent 2011 Moroccan constitutional referendum, which involved institutions such as the Constitutional Court of Morocco and drew commentary from international actors like the European Union and the United Nations. Protests also responded to arrests of activists linked to groups including the Independent Youth Movement and drew solidarity from diaspora communities in cities like Paris, Brussels, Madrid, and Barcelona.
State reactions included public statements from the Royal Palace (Morocco), interventions by security forces akin to riot police deployments seen elsewhere in 2011, and legal proceedings in courts such as the Court of Appeal (Morocco). Authorities pursued measures ranging from negotiated constitutional reform proposals to arrests of prominent organizers, prosecuting some under statutes regarding public order and assembly comparable to laws scrutinized by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. International diplomatic actors including the United States Department of State and the European Commission monitored developments and issued assessments about human rights and civil liberties. Some detainees received support from legal NGOs and bar associations similar to those in Casablanca and Rabat.
The movement influenced the adoption of a revised Constitution of Morocco in 2011 and catalyzed debates within parties such as the Istiqlal Party and the Justice and Development Party (Morocco), while shaping civil society networks that continued to engage in causes like anti-corruption and electoral reform involving institutions like the High Commission for Planning (Morocco). Its tactics and decentralized model resonated with later mobilizations in the Maghreb, informing activism in contexts similar to the Hirak Rif Movement and subsequent youth-led campaigns across North Africa and the Middle East. Scholars from universities including Université Mohammed V and think tanks like the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace have analyzed its role alongside media outlets such as Le Monde and The New York Times.
Category:Political movements in Morocco