The Moroccan Interior Ministry suspended the head of an administrative region in Casablanca for allowing a funeral to take place in violation of the country’s ban on gatherings for over 50 persons as part of measures to confront the COVID-19 outbreak.
A video of a large gathering at a funeral in Ain Chock region circulated on social media and prompted a backlash after dozens of mourners were seen violating social distancing rules.
The Ministry said the mass funeral attendance defies its ban on gatherings, adding the official has been suspended in line with disciplinary and measures.
“In light of the declared health emergency, it was decided to suspend the head of the administrative annex Ain Chock, pending the results of the administrative investigation,” said the Ministry in a press release.
Meanwhile, the second phase to support Moroccan workers of the informal sector who lost their income due to the COVID-19 crisis is set to start on Thursday.
The Ministry of Economy announced that families registered in the program will receive financial aid, with the total stipend depending on the size of the family.
The Ministry indicated that so far, 3.9 million of the total 4.3 million households have received aid, and the rest will have it by the end of this week.
The program has a budget of nearly $427 million.
The second phase will cover families already registered in addition to households who declared losing their jobs between April and May.
Beneficiaries will receive an SMS message on their mobile phones guiding them to the nearest bank or money transfer agency when their payments are ready for withdrawal.
The Ministry warned that the process of sending text messages will be extended to several days to avoid overcrowding in front of aid withdrawal points.
In a related news, President of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) Amina Bouayach called for reviewing the state's role in the fight against poverty, urging authorities to direct efforts after lockdown to fighting poverty.
The Council documented a set of quarantine-related problems including remote trials and shortage in supporting families.
Bouayach called for the development of a comprehensive strategy to fight poverty and the need to respect fair trials.
She also touched on the problem that can be posed by the digital tracking of people infected with the coronavirus, especially its implications on citizens’ personal lives.
Regarding the Council’s work during this exceptional period, Bouayach said that since the lockdown began, they have been monitoring all human rights issues relating to vulnerable groups including children, disabled persons, migrants, refugees, and women.
The Council also carried out a daily follow-up of the prisons that recorded cases of coronavirus including Ksar el-Kebir, Tangier, and Ouarzazate.
Bouayach warned against restricting freedoms during the lockdown, calling for protecting human rights.
