No fewer than eighteen Senegal football fans detained in Morocco over “hooliganism” during last month’s Africa Cup of Nations final have begun a hunger strike pending their trial, their lawyer told AFP on Friday.
Lawyer Patrick Kabou stated that his clients told him they have been “waiting to learn the charges against them since January 18,” the day they were arrested after a heated AFCON final in which Senegal beat Morocco in Rabat.
Kabou mentioned that the supporters complained that police officers had questioned them in French and Arabic, whereas they “only speak Wolof,” their native language.
Some Senegalese fans attempted to storm the pitch minutes before the end of last month’s encounter, while Senegalese players delayed play for about 20 minutes to protest Morocco’s late penalty.
Some spectators were also spotted hurling objects on the field, including a chair.
The group claimed they were being denied their “right to justice” and vowed to continue the strike “until Moroccan justice gives us the opportunity to be heard,” Kabou added.
The judge rescheduled a first court hearing in late January, and the second hearing on Thursday was similarly postponed due to Morocco’s continuing lawyers’ strike.
