HIBAPRESS – Mohamed Zerouih
An audio recording attributed to the singer "Trax," which is circulating, has sparked a debate regarding statements that are said to have insulted the residents of the Sidi Youssef Ben Ali neighborhood in Marrakesh, in addition to invoking the Rif and its people in a controversial context. According to the circulating recording, it included references to derogatory descriptions attributed to the late King Hassan II regarding the Rif people, along with an expression of support for these descriptions. These statements have brought back to the forefront the issue of dealing with discourse that harms the dignity of citizens due to their geographical affiliation or connection to a specific historical memory.
While the insult directed at the residents of the Marrakesh neighborhood has sparked widespread reaction, questions have arisen about the extent to which statements related to the Rif are being covered in the circulating media coverage of the case, especially after news emerged about the accused being prosecuted while in detention. Observers believe that focusing on one aspect of the statements without giving the same attention to the aspect related to the Rif raises an issue concerning the extent to which public discussion encompasses all dimensions that have sparked controversy.
This matter is of particular importance considering the historical and social status of the Rif within Morocco, and what the collective memory of the region represents to its inhabitants. Invoking the Rif people in a context that includes derogatory descriptions cannot be treated as a mere passing detail in a dispute that does not concern them. Instead, it calls for a responsible discussion about the limits of public discourse and the necessity of respecting and safeguarding citizens' dignity, far from stereotypes and judgments associated with geographical affiliation.
In this context, the principle of equality before the law emerges as an indivisible foundation. All statements under investigation are supposed to receive the necessary attention, without selectivity or discrimination between groups and regions. This is not about demanding a prior conviction or assuming legal responsibility before the completion of the necessary procedures, but rather about the necessity of verifying the nature of the circulated statements and determining whether the insults directed at the Rif and its people are covered by the ongoing investigations, in accordance with the law and its associated guarantees.
Given the ongoing debate, it is legitimate to question whether the concerned authorities have taken into account all aspects of the circulated recording, including the statements related to the Rif, or if the attention has primarily focused on the insults directed at the residents of Marrakesh. This question does not aim to cast doubt on the course of justice, but rather to ensure clarity and equal attention to anything that may affect the dignity of citizens. The Rif, as an authentic component of national identity, deserves to have the dignity of its people protected, and any potential insult to them should be treated with the same responsibility, within the framework of respecting the law, the presumption of innocence, and judicial independence.
