Morocco: Repression of Palestinian Solidarity Symbols, Arrest of Moroccan journalist Wassal Eddabla

Wassal Eddabla, a Moroccan journalist, found herself in the spotlight after being arrested by Moroccan security authorities while attempting to enter the Mohammed V stadium to attend a Wydad Sportif match. The journalist was arrested for wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, a symbol of solidarity with Palestine.

When she questioned a security officer about the reason for her arrest, asking, “How does a keffiyeh pose a security threat?” the response was, “You seem educated, so there’s no need to disrupt our work. We have instructions to follow, and I’m not opposed to Palestine; I’m just enforcing the law.”

Wassal Eddabla’s arrest has sent shockwaves through many Moroccans, who have taken to social media to express their support for the journalist and question the motivations behind this action. Many social media users wondered why wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh led to an arrest, while other stadiums in Morocco have seen gatherings and demonstrations in support of Palestinians, with Palestinian flags and solidarity slogans.

The controversy also arises in the context of a strong presence of keffiyehs and Palestinian flags at several matches in Morocco in recent days, with crowds chanting slogans in support of Palestinian resistance and condemning Israeli attacks on Gaza.

A solidarity march for Gaza took place in Casablanca on October 29, where tens of thousands of Moroccans marched through the streets to express their support for Gaza, which has been facing intense Zionist bombardment for several weeks. The demonstrators waved Palestinian and Moroccan flags, as well as images of Al-Aqsa Mosque and victims of the Gaza war.

The slogans chanted expressed solidarity with Gaza and condemnation of normalization with the Zionist entity. This march highlighted the Moroccan people’s strong sense of solidarity with the Palestinian cause and their rejection of normalization of relations with Israel.

In December 2020, Morocco announced the resumption of its diplomatic relations with the Zionist entity, becoming the fourth Arab country to normalize relations with the entity. This normalization was preceded by similar agreements reached by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan. In return, the United States recognized the alleged ‘Moroccan sovereignty’ over the Western Sahara.

Wassal Eddabla’s arrest raises questions about freedom of expression in Morocco and how symbols of solidarity with Palestine are perceived and handled by authorities. The controversy surrounding this incident highlights the tensions that exist between the normalization of relations with the Zionist entity and the deeply rooted support of the Moroccan people for the Palestinian cause.