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Free Ismail Lghazaoui

Pro-Palestinian activist sentenced to one year in prison

About the Case

Ismail Lghazaoui is a Moroccan pro-Palestinian activist, and agricultural engineer who peacefully advocates for Palestinian people's rights. He has been sentenced to one year in prison for his peaceful activism.

Key Information

  • Sentenced on December 10, 2024
  • One year prison sentence
  • 5,000 Moroccan Dirhams fine
  • Appeal procedure concluded, sentence reduced to 4 months, 2 of which suspended
  • Charged with "inciting to commit felonies and misdemeanors by electronic means"

Case Timeline

February 5, 2025

Release from Prison

Ismail was released from prison after the court of appeals reduced his sentence to 4 months, 2 of which were suspended.

January 29, 2025

Verdict date set

After listening to the defense committee's arguments, the court has set the date for the verdict to Wednesday,February 5th.

January 22, 2025

Hearing adjourned

Even though the hearing was scheduled for 3:00PM, Ismail's defense team, family and friends were kept waiting for more than 8 hours. In the end no hearing was held and the date was rescheduled for January 29th. The request for bail was again denied.

January 19, 2025

Support for Ismail in Washington

Pro-palestinian activists in Washington D.C. called on the immediate release of Ismail Lghazaoui during a protest.

Video

January 16, 2025

Support for Ismail in New York

American pro-palestinian activists organised a protest in the city of New York, calling on the immediate release of Ismail Lghazaoui.

Video

January 15, 2025

Support for Ismail in London

Pro-palestinian activists organised a protest in front of the Moroccan embassy in London in support of Ismail Lghazaoui.

Video

January 15, 2025

New hearing date

After extensive deliberations, the court has scheduled the hearing for January 22nd. The request for bail has been denied once again.

January 8, 2025

Appeal hearing delayed

The date of the appeal hearing was delayed to January 15th.

January 7, 2025

Appeal hearing date set

The date for the first appeal hearing was set for January 8th, and neither the defendant nor the defense committee was informed.

December 30, 2024

Letter from Prison

Ismail wrote a powerful letter from his cell in Ain Sebaa Local Prison, expressing his unwavering resolve and addressing Morocco's stance on Palestine.

December 30, 2024

Written Sentence Released

The written sentence was officially released and sent to defense team

December 10, 2024

Sentenced to Prison

Sentenced to one year in prison and fined 5,000 Moroccan Dirhams

November 21, 2024

Court Appearance

Appeared before the King's Prosecutor, bail request rejected

November 19, 2024

Police Investigation

Summoned to the National Judicial Police Brigade in Casablanca. Placed under custody for 48 hours and interrogated starting from that afternoon.

October 25, 2024

Initial Arrest

Ismail (34) responded to a social media call to protest at the US Consulate in Casablanca against US support for actions in Gaza. He was intercepted by plainclothes police, physically assaulted, and arrested by members of the National Judicial Police Brigade. He was taken to the Casablanca Security headquarters where his identity was recorded before being released later.

Letter from Prison

From Ismail Lghazaoui, imprisoned within the confines of a cell in Ain Sebaa Local Prison, Casablanca, Morocco.

The days and months pass, but they neither diminish my resolve nor weaken my hold on justice. My faith remains my companion, and my hope lies with those I left outside these bars, walking the path of resistance by every means possible. Though distance separates them from the ongoing massacres, our homeland has been, and will forever remain, a bastion for those who stand firm in defense of the truth.

What eases my sorrow is the memories of those who stood by my side through every step — from the moment of my summons to the final judgment and through all the hearings. Every time I speak with my family, they tell me of the free souls who supported me without ever knowing me, bound to me by a common cause. Our shared struggle — the refusal of injustice and the unwavering defense of the resilient Palestinian people in Gaza — unites us in purpose and destiny.

Woe to Morocco's official stance and the shameful decisions of its government. While other nations distance themselves from the occupier and sever ties with its brutal regime, Morocco's betrayal only deepens, further entrenching its complicity with the criminal Zionist entity. Years after the Al-Aqsa Flood began, we have witnessed atrocities sanitized as mere “military operations” and the imprisonment of activists for condemning normalization, even as the occupation's crimes multiply. Our rulers bought satellites from a Zionist company steeped in the blood of innocents, hosted israeli companies during an aeronautics fair, and welcomed military-laden ships to our shores, their deadly cargo bound for an army committed to genocide. They embraced pitiful initiatives aimed at legitimizing the oppressor's narrative, polishing its bloodied image. They even extradited a Palestinian to the enemy, sending him to a tragic fate. All while sentencing thirteen brave souls to six months — suspended sentence after more than a year of prosecution — simply for peacefully protesting a store funding the occupation. It makes us wonder what will come next.

If their intent in imprisoning me was to instill fear and silence others from denouncing disgrace, from demanding a position of honor that restores to Morocco its legacy as the land of the free — then know this: our triumph lies in our unbroken spirit.

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