HIBAPRESS – Abdel Latif Barca
The participation of children and minors in anti-normalization protest vigils in the city of Tangier has sparked controversy regarding their presence and the extent to which their right to protection from political and ideological exploitation is respected. This comes after social media platforms circulated photos and videos showing a number of them wearing shirts bearing symbols and slogans related to the Palestinian cause.
In this context, the organization "My Child, Don't Touch Me" expressed its concern over these scenes, considering that the possibility of exploiting children in campaigns of a political or ideological nature necessitates an investigation into its circumstances. It emphasized that the justice of causes and positions should not be a justification for involving minors in disputes that could affect their physical and psychological safety or conflict with their best interests. The organization affirmed, in a statement to public opinion, its solidarity with the Palestinian people and its respect for freedom of expression and peaceful demonstration, pointing out that children's right to express their opinions remains guaranteed, provided that it does not turn into their recruitment or exploitation in political and ideological conflicts, in accordance with the principles stipulated in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. The organization called on the competent authorities to open an investigation to determine the circumstances of children's participation in these vigils and to verify the parties that may be responsible for attracting them or exposing them to any risks, affirming its reservation of its right to pursue legal proceedings against the organizing parties, as well as the fathers and guardians of the children who may be proven to have been recruited in these campaigns. "My Child, Don't Touch Me," headed by Najat Anwar, stressed that the protection of childhood is a collective responsibility that precedes various political and ideological considerations, affirming that children should not be turned into tools of pressure or a means to serve the agendas of adults, regardless of the nature of the causes being expressed.
