By Simeon Lancaster
SALE, Morocco – Cracking a smile, Mohamed Chakhmane, 32, kicks a pebble into a muddy hole in an old concrete foundation next to his home in Sale’s Sehb El Kaid slum, as he recalls his participation in pro-democracy protests in 2011. His demands included improved housing and an end to corruption a struggle that Chakhmane first got involved with 13 years ago.
At that time, he turned to the Moroccan Association of Human Rights for help.
But these days, Chakhmane prefers to stay away from the Association, which is facing a campaign of harassment and intimidation by the government such as blocked meetings and denied operating permits.
