Eighteen Senegalese detainees from the AFCON final in Morocco have initiated a hunger strike as they await their delayed trial
Eighteen Senegalese football fans, who were detained following the AFCON final in Morocco, have commenced a hunger strike due to the prolonged wait for justice.
Eighteen Senegalese football supporters held in Morocco after disturbances during last month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final have initiated a hunger strike while they await trial, expressing concerns over prolonged detention, vague charges, and breaches of their legal rights.
On January 18, the group was apprehended in Rabat following Senegal’s victory over Morocco in a heated AFCON final that was characterized by crowd disturbances towards the end of the match. The detainees are accused of “hooliganism” by Moroccan authorities; however, their lawyer states that they have not been formally informed of the specific charges they face.
Attorney Patrick Kabou reports that his clients have expressed concerns about being detained for weeks without any clear understanding of their legal circumstances. He states that the detainees express concerns that the police interrogated them in French and Arabic, languages they do not comprehend, as they only speak Wolof, their native language from Senegal.
Tensions escalated just moments before the conclusion of the final as a group of Senegalese supporters tried to breach the pitch. Players from Senegal halted the game for almost 20 minutes in protest of a late penalty given to Morocco. Amid the turmoil, several fans were observed hurling items onto the field, including at least one chair.
Kabou reports that the detainees claim they are being denied their “right to justice” and have pledged to persist with the hunger strike “until Moroccan justice allows us the opportunity to be heard.” The protest aims to highlight what they characterize as unjust treatment and delays in procedures.
Judicial proceedings have encountered repeated delays. The initial court hearing planned for late January was postponed by the presiding judge, and a subsequent hearing scheduled for Thursday was also delayed because of a nationwide lawyers’ strike in Morocco. The case is anticipated to continue next week.
Concerns have been heightened among human rights advocates and football supporters in Senegal, who are attentively monitoring the developments of the case as the hunger strike of the detainees persists.
