AMDH Critiques Archane’s Historical Role
The ongoing confrontation between the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) and the Social Democratic Movement Party has reached new heights, particularly concerning the association's criticisms of Mahmoud Archane, the party's founder, and his actions during Morocco's turbulent Years of Lead. This tension began to escalate when the AMDH's central bureau publicly condemned the head of government for meeting with Archane during the government formation discussions held in early October. The AMDH did not hold back in its language, labeling Archane as the "torturer commissioner" and associating his name with the severe human rights violations that marked that dark period in Moroccan history.
On October 24, the AMDH took further steps by criticizing remarks made by Archane in the House of Councillors. During a debate regarding the government program, Archane had called his critics a "fifth column" and accused them of attempting to "contaminate national memory and dig up inappropriate files." His comments were met with disdain from the AMDH, who deemed them "brazen" and a provocation against victims, further perpetuating a culture of impunity.
National Protest Planned
The situation intensified when a deputy president of Tiflet’s municipal council, belonging to the majority led by Archane’s son, labeled the late leftist leader and resistance figure, Mohamed Bensaid Aït Idder, as an "agent." This remark sparked outrage among various political factions. The Federation of the Left promptly demanded the council member retract his statements and apologize to Aït Idder’s family, comrades, and the Moroccan populace, describing the comments as an affront to the collective memory of the nation and its liberation movement.
The AMDH’s Tiflet branch echoed this sentiment, denouncing the deputy's comments as an attack on Aït Idder, a figure known for his integrity and sacrifice. They argued that such accusations made within an elected body transcended mere disagreements, constituting conduct that necessitated accountability.
In light of these events, the AMDH has announced a national protest scheduled for Sunday, November 8, in Tiflet, under the rallying cry of "For holding torturers accountable and ending impunity." The association is demanding that those responsible for severe violations are brought to justice and removed from public office, emphasizing that accountability, truth, and justice for victims and their families are crucial elements in establishing the rule of law in Morocco.
In response, the Social Democratic Movement Party has called upon its supporters in Tiflet to confront the AMDH. Although they did not mention the association by name, the party referred to its members as "agents, traitors, and collaborators with foreign powers," accusing them of historical complicity in the killings of national resistance figures and of looting the nation’s wealth post-independence. Furthermore, they claimed that the AMDH was attempting to obscure its own "dark and bloody past" by attacking those loyal to Morocco’s foundational principles. The party portrayed Tiflet as a city committed to the monarchy and the sovereignty of Morocco, urging residents to gather on November 8 to resist what they termed the "association of the heirs of the Stalinist era."
As reported by en.yabiladi.com.
