Moroccan mayor to stand before justice after inciting curfew violation

The mayor of Louta, a commune in Al Hoceima province, was arrested pending his trial after inciting nationals in his locality to openly defy a night curfew that the government wants to maintain during Ramadan.

The government cited fears of a new wave of new coronavirus strains and extended the curfew to Ramadan from 20:00 to 6:00.

The decision was resented by many business operators who make profit after sunset when people break their fast.

The mayor of Louta, Mekki El Hannoudi, said in a post on his Facebook that citizens in his commune could violate the curfew until 23:00, triggering controversy and mockery on social media.

Morocco has also maintained an emergency decree and any citizen who instigate the violation of restrictive measures shall serve a prison term of up to three months.