Amazigh Union condemns Morocco attacks

The International Amazigh Union has announced that an armed gang attacked prominent Moroccan activist Fekry Al-Azraq and his brother on January 29. The union, headed by Moroccan journalist Amina Ibn Al-Sheikh, reported the incident in statement that Arabstoday received. The attack caused "serious injuries that resulted in Al-Azraq going into a coma,” said the statement. The incident indicates a change in the style of crime targeting activists, as they used to be attacked in the street, and sometimes “killed” according to the statement. A number of Amazigh activists have been subjected to death threats, attacks and intellectual terrorism in the past, because of their participation in the youth movement for change in Morocco, and their criticism of the heads of corruption. What happened with Fekry Al-Azraq and his brother is a dangerous and unprecedented step of its kind, the statement says. The International Amazigh Union announced placing "full responsibility of all assassinations, attacks and threat of assault on the Moroccan government". These incidents have spread in an unprecedented way and with the encouragement of the government itself since the launch of February 20 Youth Movement in Morocco.” The statement demanded a fair investigation to reveal all parties responsible for, not only the attack of Al-Azraq and his brother, but also previous attacks and threats on other activists.