Rabat, Morocco — The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) of Morocco has reaffirmed its dedication to guaranteeing fair trials for 18 Senegalese fans and one French national of Algerian descent detained in the wake of the tumultuous 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Senegal and Morocco. The CNDH issued a report detailing its close monitoring of the events on January 18, which included incidents of vandalism that stained the final match.
The council has been particularly vigilant in observing the trial proceedings, which have seen the detained fans and the French national face charges ranging from unauthorized pitch invasion and the use of force to participation in acts of violence leading to property damage and sports facility destruction. The charges also encompassed the deliberate throwing of projectiles, causing harm to others, and acts of violence against public forces on duty.
In its oversight, the CNDH has emphasized the importance of upholding fair trial guarantees, including public hearings, the presumption of innocence, and effective access to the rights of defense. The council has ensured that defendants have access to legal representation, translation, and interpretation services. A monitoring and follow-up committee, accompanied by a specialist doctor, has visited the Sale prisons where the detainees are held, conducting interviews in the absence of prison administration staff.
According to the CNDH, none of the detainees reported any violations of their rights to the council’s team. The council’s President, Amina Bouayach, also engaged with the President of the National Human Rights Commission of Senegal during the General Assembly of the African Network of National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) in Cameroon in February. This meeting was instrumental in informing the Senegalese institution about the actions taken in accordance with its national mandate.
The appeal case for the Senegalese fans has been postponed to April 13. Despite videos that document vandalism and violence during the competition, the Senegalese government has vowed to take all necessary measures to secure the fans’release. It has also suggested the possibility of seeking a royal pardon for those arrested.
Source: moroccoworldnews
