Several people gathered Friday night outside the offices of the AFP in Rabat for a sit-in of mourning and solidarity with Charlie Hebdo. Moroccans, but also several French and foreign nationals participated in the event.
With placards on which was displayed “I’m Charlie”, the demonstrators protested against a “barbaric and cowardly act” and an “insult” to freedom of expression. Lighted candles in hand, they showed their support for the victims and their families.
Several sit-ins were also held in different cities in the kingdom.
The French Institute of Casablanca organized a sit-in to “pay tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack against Charlie Hebdo”. A number of journalists, writers, of Moroccan and French nationalities took part in the sit-in.
The participants lit their candles and kept silent as a way to demonstrate their compassion and solidarity with the families of the victims.”
Some people showed their placards on which were written “I am Moroccan, I am Charlie” while others showed “I am Charlie, but also Muslim” or “All against barbarity All Charlie.”
In related news, this Friday, the imam of the mosque Al Imane in the Sidi Bernoussi neighborhood in Casablanca where King completed the Friday prayer called on Muslims to favor peaceful means in their communications with Christians and Jews. Although he has not named Charlie Hebdo, he called the faithfuls to know how to manage their differences through dialogue and consultation and not by recourse to weapons. Furthermore, the Moroccan authorities had denounced this cowardly act, also calling to avoid the confusion between Islam and terrorism.
