Nasser Zefzafi excels in university exams from prison, dedicates success to loved ones
Nasser Zefzafi, a prominent figure in Morocco's Hirak Rif movement, has achieved remarkable academic success while serving a 20-year prison sentence. Zefzafi passed his second-semester university exams for the 2024-2025 academic year, earning an impressive average of 15.64. His brother, Tarek Zefzafi, shared the news on Facebook, noting that Nasser dedicated this achievement to his parents and loved ones.
Currently pursuing studies at the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences in Tangier, Zefzafi has continued his education from within Tangier II prison. In 2023, he secured his baccalaureate diploma in the humanities track with an average of 14.30, demonstrating his commitment to education despite his incarceration.
Zefzafi, born on November 4, 1979, in Al Hoceima, emerged as a leading figure in the Hirak Rif movement, which began in 2016 following the tragic death of fishmonger Mohcine Fikri. Fikri’s death, caused by being crushed in a garbage truck while attempting to retrieve confiscated fish, ignited widespread protests in Morocco's Rif region. Demonstrators demanded justice, better healthcare, improved infrastructure, and economic opportunities.
Zefzafi rose to prominence after interrupting a Friday sermon in May 2017 to criticize a cleric and call for reforms. On May 29, 2017, he was arrested and subsequently charged with undermining state security. A court sentenced him to 20 years in prison in June 2018.
Despite occasional royal pardons in Morocco, often granted on national holidays or special occasions, Zefzafi has consistently refused to apply for one. He maintains that seeking a pardon would imply guilt for what he insists were peaceful protests.
Zefzafi’s academic success has further solidified his reputation as a symbol of resistance and perseverance, inspiring supporters both in Morocco and abroad.
