Death of Moroccan Teacher After Student Attack Sparks Nationwide Grief, Protest
El Ayader passed away on Sunday after being violently attacked by one of her students in late March. Her tragic death has triggered growing concern over the safety of educators across Morocco, including the increasing cases of verbal and physical abuse targeting female teachers and staff.
The National Federation of Vocational Training, part of the Moroccan Workers' Union (UMT), called for nationwide protests on Tuesday. It urged staff in vocational training centers to wear black armbands throughout the day and observe a minute of silence at 1:15 pm in memory of El Ayader.
Demonstrations are also planned from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at training centers across the country.
The federation released a statement expressing its deep concern over the increasing number of violent incidents targeting vocational training professionals. The organization warned that such violence had reached 'unprecedented levels,' with some attacks being described as 'horrific crimes.'
'This tragedy is not just an isolated case. It reflects a very dangerous situation inside our vocational institutions,' reads the statement. 'We are demanding real protection, not just words.'
Read also: New Report Exposes Alarming School Violence in Morocco
The group also criticized what it sees as a lack of response from the authorities and the repeated dismissal of calls for measures to protect staff, saying this silence encourages more violence.
The case of El Ayader is not the only one. The federation cited a recent assault on another female instructor in the city of Azemmour, calling it 'unjustified and dangerous.' These attacks, they said, point to a breakdown in the values of respect and discipline within the training system.
The tragic incident sparked widespread anger on social media, where many users expressed outrage and demanded urgent action to protect teachers.
'These frequent attacks are a real indicator of the failure of educational policies that have been implemented over the last two decades and cost billions of dollars!' a social media user said.
Another netizen expressed concerns about the cultural and educational roots of such violence, questioning: 'I can't think of any reason for a 'student' to attack his teacher. Lack of respect for women? What was he taught at home?'
Political figures have also spoken out about the incident. Abdellah Bouanou, head of the Justice and Development Party's parliamentary group, offered condolences to El Ayader's family and to all teaching staff. He warned that attacks on educators are becoming a serious problem and said the incident must not be ignored.
Bouanou criticized what he described as the government's weak response and said his parliamentary group would push for answers. He promised to raise questions with the relevant ministers and call for urgent discussions in the appropriate parliamentary committees.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
an hour ago
- Morocco World
Calls Grow for UK to Intervene in Imprisoned Fighter Lee Murray's Case
Lee Brahim Murray-Lamrani is a British-Moroccan former MMA fighter, born on November 12, 1977, in London to a Moroccan father and English mother. In his early life in Woolwich, London, Murray gained notoriety due to his alleged linkage with illegal activities, including violence and drug dealing, before indulging in the MMA world. In 2006, Murray was involved in a robbery of £53m from a Securitas depot in Kent, England, with a group of masked men before he ran away to Morocco. After four months on the run, Murray was caught in Rabat in a joint operation conducted by Moroccan and British police. He was sentenced to 10 years in Moroccan prison before the sentence was increased to 25 years on appeal. Lee's younger son, Lenie Murray, was two years old during the incident. 'I was only two years old when my dad went to prison. I've spent my whole life without him. He's missed my childhood, and I've missed having a father by my side,' Lenie told Morocco World News (MWN) in an exclusive interview. Read also: Human Rights Groups Demand Inquiry into Lee Murray's Conviction 'He made a mistake a very long time ago that he's taken responsibility for and changed for the better. He's still my dad. I love him and miss him every day. I just want the chance to know him properly and to have him be part of my life. I'm not asking for anything more than the chance to share time with the father I've missed for 19 years. 'My father has spent 19 years in a Moroccan prison — far longer than anyone else involved in the same case received in the UK,' he added. Human rights groups are now demanding that the UK parliament take action in the case. 'We are urging the UK government to formally support a pardon request for Lee,' Radha Stirling, CEO of Due Process International and founder of Detained in Dubai, told Morocco World News. She added: 'We're also urging an investigation into whether the UK government breached its obligation to its own citizens, to pursue a prosecution by a foreign government since this sets a dangerous precedent.' Murray's MMA Career Murray started his MMA career in 1999 at an event called 'Millennium Brawl' when he won over Rob Hudson by a first-round knockout, and gained the nickname 'lightning.' Lee fought four times in 2000 and won each fight with either a submission or a knockout. His aggressive, unpredictable style made him one of the most feared fighters at that time. Dana white, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), described him as 'the most legit gangsters of all time.' Dana detailed: 'I actually ran into Lee Murray right after he got stabbed. He got stabbed everywhere and they were still fresh…Days after Lee Murray got stabbed, he's walking around the event with all the stitches still in him. Lee Murray is one of the most legit gangsters of all time, he really is.' Murray has a professional record of 8-2-1 (win-loss-draw) with remarkable fights, including his win over Jorge Rivera at UFC 46 via triangle armbar in just 1 minute and 45 seconds of the first round. Eight months later, Lee delivered a competitive fight with the UFC legend and Hall-of-Fame Anderson Silva in Cage Rage 8, which ended by decision for Silva. On September 28, 2005, Murray faced the incident that would put an end to his MMA career. He was stabbed repeatedly in the heart at a birthday party at Funky Buddha nightclub in Mayfair. According to The Standard, Murray underwent open-heart surgery and needed 30 pints of blood, but no one was charged with the attack. 'First, they stabbed me in the head. At first, I thought it was a punch. When I felt blood running down my face, I wiped it away and kept fighting. Then I looked down and blood was spurting from my chest. I knew I had been stabbed in the heart by the blood gushing out of me. Blood sprayed from me about a meter away,' Murray said in an interview. Nearly two decades after the Securitas robbery, Lee Murray remains imprisoned in Morocco, and his case continues to draw attention from human rights advocates. Tags: human rightslee murrayMMA
Ya Biladi
a day ago
- Ya Biladi
Lured into ISIS territory, acquitted Moroccans remain stuck in Somalia
Ahmed N. lives in Spain with his entire Moroccan family, his father, brothers, and sisters. But everything changed when he embarked on a trip to Turkey and ended up following a group of individuals who promised him a well-paying job. As the journey progressed, he realized he was getting pulled into something much harder to escape. Eventually, he found himself in Somalia, in the hands of ISIS. «We had all built our lives in Spain», his sister Najat told Yabiladi. «At one point, he wanted to return to Morocco to invest, but the challenges he faced pushed him to come back here. Then he went to Turkey, met people who promised to help him. He had no idea he'd end up in an area controlled by terrorist groups in Somalia». Since last year, Najat has been fighting to get her brother out of prison. Initially, the military court in Puntland sentenced him and five other Moroccan nationals to death for allegedly joining ISIS in Somalia. According to the initial judgment, the six had joined a base in the Cal-Miskaat Mountains in northeastern Somalia. Documents presented in court and reviewed by Yabiladi show that some of the Moroccan nationals arrived in Somalia after passing through Turkey and Ethiopia. At Cal Miskaat, they were said to have received training in ISIS camps, learning to handle light weapons like the AK-47. However, they eventually tried to abandon the process and escape from the group. Ahmed, who traveled from Spain via Turkey, was reportedly not involved in any military training, according to his family. His relatives and the court maintain that he was «misled into believing he could invest in agriculture» in Somalia. Once he realized he was in an ISIS-controlled zone, he found himself unable to turn back. «He reached out to the Red Crescent and local authorities on his own, and was handed over to the army. He wasn't captured during a confrontation, he surrendered voluntarily. He never considered himself part of ISIS; in fact, he saw himself as a deserter once he understood the terrorist nature of the project», Najat told us. In March 2024, several Moroccan NGOs denounced the initial verdict. Among them were the Moroccan Coalition Against the Death Penalty (CMCPM), the Association for a Fair Trial, and the Network of Lawyers Against the Death Penalty. They called on Moroccan authorities to intervene and ensure the repatriation of the six nationals. On appeal, the defense presented evidence supporting their claims, including the absence of confessions and the fact that they had tried to flee ISIS. The court took these elements into account under the provisions of the Somali Penal Code. To Ahmed's supporters, «the evidence showed that these men were victims of human trafficking». «They were lured to Somalia with promises of good jobs. Once they realized ISIS wanted to recruit them, they ran and voluntarily turned themselves in to the Puntland State police, a clear sign they rejected the group», sources close to the case told Yabiladi. In May, the Puntland military appeals court overturned the death sentences and declared all six men not guilty. The court also acknowledged that «these individuals were misled and trafficked» and, more importantly, that «they surrendered voluntarily to authorities». When they turned themselves in, they were «unarmed and there was no indication they had ever taken part in any terrorist activity… rather, they sought protection», the same sources added. The court ordered their release and initiated procedures for their return home. They were handed over to the Constitutional Affairs Administration under Somalia's Ministry of Justice to facilitate their repatriation to Morocco. «Ahmed even told us that they were in the process of being repatriated, but apparently things got held up because of inaccurate information about one of the five other Moroccans», Najat said. A Complicated Repatriation While in detention, the six men were visited by a delegation from the Puntland Parliament. During a meeting at the Garoowe prison, lawmakers were briefed on the status of detainees charged with serious crimes. Despite being cleared by the appeals court, the six men remain in «administrative detention for security reasons». According to Yabiladi's sources, «their situation is still unresolved due to a lack of diplomatic or humanitarian coordination». «Even with the court's decision, repatriation remains stalled because of logistical and political challenges. All six had their passports and ID documents confiscated by ISIS, leaving them without any valid paperwork for travel», the sources said. The political landscape in Somalia further complicates matters. The case falls under the jurisdiction of Puntland, a semi-autonomous region with its own legal and security systems, operating independently since 1998. Tensions between Puntland and the federal government in Mogadishu have made coordination with foreign embassies difficult. Moreover, «Morocco does not have a diplomatic presence in Puntland», which adds another layer of complexity, the same sources said. Back in Morocco, the families of the other detainees have reached out to various authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, the Ministry of Justice, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the National Human Rights Council (CNDH). In Spain, Ahmed's family is represented by Guillermo Santana, a lawyer with the Seville Bar Association, who is also advocating on the case. Speaking to Yabiladi, Santana explained that «numerous letters have been exchanged with Moroccan authorities, including consular services in the Spanish region, in an effort to secure repatriation». «We've received a positive response from the Moroccan side, which forwarded our requests to Rabat. We're hopeful that they will follow through», he said. However, repatriation may not mean full exoneration. Once back in Morocco, the six nationals could face investigations due to their presence in a conflict zone controlled by a terrorist group. In the meantime, their families continue to worry about the poor detention conditions, «scarce food and constant psychological pressure», and are hoping above all for the safe return of their loved ones.
Morocco World
a day ago
- Morocco World
Colombian Ex-Military Pilot Found Dead on Moroccan Coast After Disappearance
Marrakech – The body of Juan Pablo Rivera Sánchez, a 47-year-old former Colombian Air Force pilot who disappeared in Algeciras, Spain, has been found on the coast of Morocco. Rivera, who was last seen on June 30, had been missing for several weeks before the tragic discovery on July 22. According to Spanish media, initial evidence suggests Rivera died in an aircraft accident. His body was found partially in and partially out of the water on a Moroccan beach. Forensic studies are currently underway to determine the exact cause of death. Rivera had traveled to Spain for work purposes. His brother, Jairo Hernán Rivera Sánchez, explained that Juan Pablo worked for a specialized aircraft restoration company based in Honduras. 'He worked on helicopters. He died doing what he loved. He was part of a company in Honduras, the only one that could restore aircraft worldwide. That's why he traveled to Spain, for a test,' Jairo told Colombian newspaper La Nación. Read also: Moroccan Drug Lord with Interpol Red Notice Arrested at Colombian Airport The discovery has shocked the Huila region of Colombia, particularly the municipality of Pitalito where Rivera was born. Despite living in Honduras for years due to his work, his family remained in Pitalito, where they hope to hold his funeral. One hypothesis being investigated is that Rivera may have jumped from the aircraft and swam injured to shore, where he ultimately died. 'The body was at the edge of the sea, partly outside and partly inside. We still don't know if he managed to get out injured to that point,' his brother explained. The search for Rivera began when he stopped communicating with his family on June 24. The organization SOS Desaparecidos issued an official alert on July 3 after several days without contact. The alert indicated he might have initially traveled to Granada, though this was not confirmed. Neither the aircraft nor any of Rivera's colleagues have been located yet. The Colombian Embassy in Spain had been cooperating with authorities in Algeciras in the search efforts. Rivera is remembered as 'an excellent military man, very loved by those who knew him. He was a father of two children and a dedicated husband. Always committed to his work,' according to his brother. His family is now working on repatriation procedures to bring his body back to Colombia for a proper farewell in his hometown. Tags: Colombian citizenMoroccan coast
