5 Self-Immolate in Morocco

1 of the 5 Moroccans who set themselves on fire last week has died from his injuries. Abdelwahab Zaydoun, who holds a master’s degree in law, was confirmed dead by his wife, Amina Naddam, who said, ”I saw him in the morgue, he is dead and I accuse the makhzen of killing him,” a reference to the ruling elite. A movement of around 160 members, called the “unemployed graduates”, has occupied the Ministry of Higher Education demanding jobs for college graduates. In Morocco, the official rate of unemployed is around 9.1 percent nationally, but rises to an estimated 16 percent for graduates.

Over the past two weeks, the protesters had been receiving food supplied by supporters, but security forces surrounded the protest and stopped food deliveries. Zaydoun, and four others,  doused themselves with a liquid and threatened to light themselves on fire if security forces hindered their attempts at retrieving the food. Videos show Zaydoun throwing bread back to the building before security forces beat him back. When a colleague burst into flames Zaydoun attempted to help, but only catches fire himself. Security at the hospital, where the burn victims were taken, is heavy, to presumably prevent subsequent protest. Activist Abdallah Kacimi, said of the scene at the hospital, “It is surrounded as though they are preparing for a war.” Naddam appealed for an investigation into her husband’s death, and said, “I ask the human rights organizations for help in opening an investigation into whoever forbade the bread from going to the protesters.”