Eighteen Senegalese football supporters arrested in Morocco after disturbances at last month’s Africa Cup of Nations final have begun a hunger strike as their trial continues to face delays, their lawyer said.
The fans were detained on January 18 in Rabat following the AFCON final in which Senegal defeated Morocco.
Speaking to AFP on Friday, their lawyer, Patrick Kabou, said the detainees decided to stop eating while awaiting formal charges and court proceedings, AFP reports.
Kabou said his clients told him they have been “waiting to learn the charges against them since January 18”, the day they were arrested after the match.
He added that the group complained about how they were questioned by authorities, saying police officers spoke to them in French and Arabic, whereas they “only speak Wolof”, their native language.
The arrests followed chaotic scenes near the end of the final, when some Senegalese supporters attempted to storm the pitch.
Senegal’s players subsequently stopped play for nearly 20 minutes to protest a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
During the incident, some fans were also seen throwing objects onto the field, including a chair.
According to Kabou, the detainees believe they are being denied their “right to justice” and have pledged to continue the hunger strike “until Moroccan justice gives us the chance to be heard”.
A first court hearing in late January was adjourned by the judge, while a second hearing scheduled for Thursday was also postponed due to an ongoing lawyers’ strike in Morocco.
The trial is now expected to resume next week.
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