Nasser Zefzafi begins hunger and thirst strike over threats video probe

Nasser Zefzafi, leader of the Rif Movement and currently imprisoned at Tangier 2, has announced that he is beginning a hunger and thirst strike, according to a message shared by his brother Tarik Zefzafi on Facebook.

Tarik wrote that the decision is a protest against «the complicity of the Public Prosecution in attempting to shield those who threatened me with physical elimination». Zefzafi added that he has also requested the withdrawal of his baccalaureate certificate from the Abdelmalek Essaâdi Faculty of Law in Tangier, saying: «A law that cannot protect my life and my right to seek justice does not deserve my time».

In an earlier letter, Zefzafi had urged the Public Prosecution to open an investigation into a video showing individuals wearing U.S. military uniforms threatening him with harm. He warned that he would begin a hunger and thirst strike if no action was taken within three days.

A few days ago, the Tangier Court of Appeal announced that it had opened a judicial investigation into the video, which was originally published in 2017. The court said it had assigned the National Brigade of Judicial Police to determine the circumstances and details surrounding the footage.