Protests erupt across Morocco against vaccine passes

Protests erupted across cities in Morocco Sunday against a COVID-19 vaccine passport required for travel and access to indoor events, The Associated Press reported.

Some protesters attempted to break through a police cordon, with authorities responding by using shields to disperse the crowd. Images showed police arresting protesters, a number of whom reportedly suffered injuries, according to the AP.  

Since Oct. 21, proof of vaccinations has been made mandatory for all residents to enter their place of work, restaurants and for domestic and international air travel. 

This marked the second week of hundreds of demonstrators marching through the capital of Rabat to voice their opposition to the vaccine passport requirement, the AP reported. 

“It should be our choice!” protesters shouted outside the parliament building in the capital city. 

Several hundred protesters held similar demonstrations in other cities including in Casablanca, Morocco’s main economic hub, the AP reported. 

Some 58 percent of Moroccan residents are fully vaccinated against the virus, the highest vaccination rate in the African continent. 

Moroccan officials have reported about 14,000 COVID-19-related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, the AP noted.