SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.

Date of Incident: May 18, 2018

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):Ibn Zohr University

Region & Country:Northern Africa | Morocco

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On May 18, 2018, violent clashes broke out between opposing student groups at Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, resulting in one student killed and several students injured.

Members of the Sahawari students group and the Amazigh Students Cultural Movement, two groups that reportedly have a history of tension, confronted each other on campus. The subject of the confrontation remains unclear; however, reports indicate that two of the students from opposing sides began fighting and their classmates quickly joined in. Students were reported to have brought knives to the confrontation.

One student Abdel Rahim Badri was killed and several others were reportedly injured in the clashes. Police have arrested several students in connection with the clashes and opened a criminal investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Badri’s death.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the death of a student as a result of violent clashes between student groups on campus. SAR offers condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Badri and respectfully urges state and university authorities to investigate the incident and take reasonable steps to ensure student safety on campus while respecting the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Students have the right to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly; however, they must exercise these rights peacefully and responsibly.

Sources:
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20180531092309781
http://www.lesiteinfo.com/maroc/affrontements-a-faculte-lettres-dagadir-quen-pense-president/
http://www.leconomiste.com/article/1028603-agadir-affrontements-mortels-la-faculte-des-lettres
https://www.maghreb-intelligence.com/maroc-un-mort-dans-des-affrontements-entre-etudiants-sahraouis-et-amazighs-a-luniversite-dagadir/
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2018/05/246696/university-fight-turns-deadly-agadir/
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2016/01/178494/amazigh-activist-killed-by-pro-polisario-students-in-marrakech/
https://www.facebook.com/EtudiantsSahraouis/videos/1288136891320189/