Morocco is currently building what will be the globe's largest football stadium in preparation for co-hosting the 2030 World Cup.
But for the demonstrators who have taken to the streets each night across the country since last Saturday, this 115,000-capacity showpiece and all the other football infrastructure in development, costing a reported $5bn (£3.7bn), are an affront - an example of a government that has got its priorities wrong.
I am protesting because I want my country to be better. I don't want to leave Morocco, and I don't want to resent my country for choosing to stay, says Hajar Belhassan, a 25-year-old communications manager from Settat, 80km (50 miles) south of Casablanca.
A group called Gen Z 212 - the number is a reference to the country's international dialling code - has been coordinating the demonstrations through the gaming and streaming platform Discord, as well as TikTok and Instagram.
Apparently taking inspiration from Nepal's recent Gen Z protests, the young Moroccans want the authorities to act with the same urgency and passion when it comes to addressing these issues as with hosting one of the world's premier sporting events.
Starting on 27 September with protests across 10 cities, the crowds have been building through the week, chanting slogans such as: No World Cup, health comes first and We want hospitals not football stadiums.
The police have responded with seemingly arbitrary mass arrests and in certain places things have turned violent, leading to the death of three protesters. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has expressed openness to dialogue, but the leaderless movement has vowed to continue until there is substantial change.
A list of their demands has been shared on social media, including calls for free and quality education, accessible public healthcare, decent housing, better public transport, and improved wages.
The protests were sparked by the tragic deaths of eight women in a maternity ward in Agadir in mid-September, with many attributing these deaths to inadequate medical care.
The current ratio of healthcare professionals in Morocco is significantly low, with only 7.8 doctors per 10,000 people, compared to the World Health Organization's recommended 23. Young protester Ms. Belhassan decided to join after hearing personal accounts of friends impacted by government repression.
With significant arrests reported, the protesters' commitment remains strong despite fears of violence. They argue that while hosting the World Cup is a source of pride, community essentials like health and education should be the government's priority for a dignified life.
But for the demonstrators who have taken to the streets each night across the country since last Saturday, this 115,000-capacity showpiece and all the other football infrastructure in development, costing a reported $5bn (£3.7bn), are an affront - an example of a government that has got its priorities wrong.
I am protesting because I want my country to be better. I don't want to leave Morocco, and I don't want to resent my country for choosing to stay, says Hajar Belhassan, a 25-year-old communications manager from Settat, 80km (50 miles) south of Casablanca.
A group called Gen Z 212 - the number is a reference to the country's international dialling code - has been coordinating the demonstrations through the gaming and streaming platform Discord, as well as TikTok and Instagram.
Apparently taking inspiration from Nepal's recent Gen Z protests, the young Moroccans want the authorities to act with the same urgency and passion when it comes to addressing these issues as with hosting one of the world's premier sporting events.
Starting on 27 September with protests across 10 cities, the crowds have been building through the week, chanting slogans such as: No World Cup, health comes first and We want hospitals not football stadiums.
The police have responded with seemingly arbitrary mass arrests and in certain places things have turned violent, leading to the death of three protesters. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has expressed openness to dialogue, but the leaderless movement has vowed to continue until there is substantial change.
A list of their demands has been shared on social media, including calls for free and quality education, accessible public healthcare, decent housing, better public transport, and improved wages.
The protests were sparked by the tragic deaths of eight women in a maternity ward in Agadir in mid-September, with many attributing these deaths to inadequate medical care.
The current ratio of healthcare professionals in Morocco is significantly low, with only 7.8 doctors per 10,000 people, compared to the World Health Organization's recommended 23. Young protester Ms. Belhassan decided to join after hearing personal accounts of friends impacted by government repression.
With significant arrests reported, the protesters' commitment remains strong despite fears of violence. They argue that while hosting the World Cup is a source of pride, community essentials like health and education should be the government's priority for a dignified life.
