Authorities in Morocco have detained another young activist in what appears to be a developing pattern involving members of the youth movement GenZ212. Mohammed Khalif, who is active in the group’s Casablanca network, was taken into custody on February 16, according to individuals familiar with the case. Security officials reportedly searched his residence and confiscated his personal computer. As of this writing, prosecutors have not publicly specified the legal grounds for his arrest.
Khalif is expected to appear before the public prosecutor on February 18 at the Aïn Sebaâ Court of First Instance in Casablanca. That hearing will determine whether formal charges will be brought and under what legal provisions. His lawyer, Mohamed Messaoudi, has indicated that the defense is awaiting clarification regarding the accusations and the evidence supporting them.
The arrest follows closely on the heels of a separate case involving Zineb Kharroubi, who is associated with GenZ212’s France-based branch. She was stopped on February 12 upon arrival at Marrakech Menara Airport. Unlike Khalif, she was released and is being prosecuted while at liberty. Authorities have accused her of encouraging criminal acts through electronic communication. Her trial is set to begin on February 23.
The proximity of the two cases has intensified concern among members of the movement and observers who track civic activism in Morocco. While officials have not publicly linked the two matters, the timing has led supporters of GenZ212 to interpret the arrests as part of a broader tightening of scrutiny toward digitally active youth organizers.
GenZ212 is a youth-driven civic initiative that has built much of its presence through social media engagement and online commentary. Its members often address governance, public accountability, and social policy issues. The group describes its activities as peaceful civic participation, including digital expression and nonviolent organizing. Like many youth-led movements, it operates largely in the online sphere, where political debate in Morocco has become increasingly visible and influential.
Morocco’s legal system includes statutes regulating online speech, public order, and incitement. In recent years, authorities have pursued cases against individuals for content posted on social media platforms, citing concerns about misinformation, defamation, or calls to unlawful action. Civil society organizations have at times questioned whether such provisions are applied too broadly in politically sensitive contexts. Government officials, for their part, maintain that prosecutions are based on existing law and due process.
In a public statement issued after Khalif’s detention, GenZ212 described the arrest as alarming and rejected what it characterized as legal action against peaceful civic engagement. The group argued that participation in demonstrations, online expression, and youth organizing fall within rights guaranteed under Morocco’s Constitution. It called for transparency regarding the charges and for adherence to procedural safeguards.
The coming days will likely clarify whether the cases against Khalif and Kharroubi represent isolated legal disputes or signal a wider trend affecting digitally engaged youth activists. Much will depend on the specific allegations presented in court and how prosecutors frame the legal basis for the proceedings.
