Thousands of demonstrators in Morocco are condemning prison sentences given to the leader of the Hirak Rif anti-poverty movement and dozens of other activists.
The demonstration brought one of the main avenues of the Moroccan capital, Rabat, to a standstill on Sunday. Security forces kept watch as participants sang, "The people want the detainees released" and "Long live Rif."
Click to Gallery
Thousands of demonstrators in Morocco are condemning prison sentences given to the leader of the Hirak Rif anti-poverty movement and dozens of other activists.
Rif is the struggling region in northern Morocco where the Hirak movement was born in 2016. The movement demands development and job creation for the region.
Moroccans chant slogans as they take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Birds fly as Moroccans gesture and chant slogans during a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Young boys observe as thousands of Moroccans take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Moroccans hold hands as they take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Thousands of Moroccans take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. Banner in Arabic reads "Enough injustice, freedom to our nation". (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Moroccans gesture and chant slogans as they take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
A woman carries a banner of detained journalist Taoufik Bouachrine during a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. Banner in Arabic read "Journalism is not a crime." (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
A protester holds a photo of Hirak leader Nasser Zefzafi during a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. Banner in Berber reads Zefzafi's name. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Moroccans wave Berber flags and chant slogans as they take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Thousands of Moroccans wave Berber flags and hold photos of detained activists as they take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Hirak leader Nasser Zefzafi was sentenced to the maximum prison term of 20 years for threatening state security. An appeals court upheld his sentence and those of other activists this month.
Moroccan women take part in demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Rif is the struggling region in northern Morocco where the Hirak movement was born in 2016. The movement demands development and job creation for the region.
Relatives, human rights organizations and left-wing parties are demanding the imprisoned activists' immediate release.
A protester takes part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. Banner in Arabic reads "We are not in anyone's territory". (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Moroccans chant slogans as they take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Birds fly as Moroccans gesture and chant slogans during a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Young boys observe as thousands of Moroccans take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Moroccans hold hands as they take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Thousands of Moroccans take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. Banner in Arabic reads "Enough injustice, freedom to our nation". (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Moroccans gesture and chant slogans as they take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
A woman carries a banner of detained journalist Taoufik Bouachrine during a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. Banner in Arabic read "Journalism is not a crime." (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
A protester holds a photo of Hirak leader Nasser Zefzafi during a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. Banner in Berber reads Zefzafi's name. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Moroccans wave Berber flags and chant slogans as they take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)
Thousands of Moroccans wave Berber flags and hold photos of detained activists as they take part in a demonstration in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Protesters are condemning prison terms for the leader of the Hirak Rif protest movement against poverty and dozens of other activists. (AP PhotoMosa'ab Elshamy)