Moroccan rights groups demand probe into activist Sion Assidon's death

Two Moroccan human rights organizations are calling for a thorough investigation into the death of activist Sion Assidon, marking the first anniversary of his passing into a coma that ultimately led to his death.

The Moroccan League for the Defense of Human Rights and the Moroccan Association for Human Rights have jointly submitted a request to the public prosecutor's office. They are urging for "appropriate" legal and judicial measures to ensure a comprehensive, effective, and independent investigation into all circumstances surrounding Assidon's injury and death.

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The Moroccan League for the Defense of Human Rights and the Moroccan Association for Human Rights have jointly submitted a request to the public prosecutor's office.

In their complaint, the organizations emphasize that they do not hold any preconceived notions about the cause of Assidon's injury or assign blame to any specific individual. Instead, they highlight that the available information and unanswered questions surrounding the incident necessitate exhausting all avenues of inquiry before reaching any definitive conclusions. This approach, they state, is crucial for ensuring truth, justice, and respect for the right to life.

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The organizations emphasize that they do not hold any preconceived notions about the cause of Assidon's injury or assign blame to any specific individual.

The groups find the circumstances of the incident, based on last year's investigation, insufficient to definitively address the legitimate questions surrounding the case. They point to the severity of Assidon's injuries, including a skull fracture, brain hemorrhage, and significant shoulder trauma, as evidence requiring a detailed scientific, technical, and judicial investigation into all potential actions that could have led to such grave consequences.

Sion Assidon, who died at 77, was a key figure in the Moroccan human rights movement. He was a founder of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement in Morocco and had a history of activism dating back to the Marxist-Leninist "March 23" movement, for which he was imprisoned for 12 years. He also co-founded Transparency Morocco and actively supported initiatives advocating for Palestinian rights.

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The severity of Assidon's injuries, including a skull fracture, brain hemorrhage, and significant shoulder trauma, requires a detailed scientific, technical, and judicial investigation.