Led by Islamists, thousands of Moroccans rally in support of northern protests
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Thousands of Moroccans led by an Islamist movement rallied in the capital Rabat on Sunday in a massive show of support for protests against corruption and official abuses in a northern region that have tested authorities for weeks.
Chanting against "ruling mafia" and carrying portraits of detained activists, protesters packed Rabat's Bab El Hed area and marched toward the parliament, with most from the Adl Wal Ihsan (Justice and Spirituality) Islamist movement.
Political unrest is rare in the North African kingdom but protests around northern city Al-Hoceima since October have been the largest since the 2011 "Arab Spring"-inspired rallies that prompted the king to cede some powers. The participation of Justice and Spirituality is significant. A major player in the 2011 protests, the movement is banned from formal politics, but is the only opposition group able to mobilise on a massive scale.
