Prosecutor general provides updates on Sion Assidon case as investigation continues

Wednesday 20 August 2025 - 11:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Prosecutor general provides updates on Sion Assidon case as investigation continues

The King’s Prosecutor General at the Casablanca Court of Appeal has released details about the case of Moroccan activist Sion Assidon, who was found unconscious in his home on August 11. Assidon, a prominent human rights advocate and anti-Zionist, remains in a coma after suffering severe head and facial injuries.

Discovery and initial investigation

According to the prosecutor’s statement, police were alerted by two of Assidon’s employees after he failed to appear for work or respond to calls. Upon arriving at his residence, authorities found his car parked outside. After gaining access with professional assistance, officers discovered gardening tools, including a ladder, saw, pickaxe, and pruning shears, along with freshly cut vegetation in the yard.

Inside the house, Assidon was found unconscious on a couch and was immediately transferred to Sheikh Khalifa Hospital in Casablanca. Investigators found no signs of forced entry or disturbance, and biological samples collected from the scene revealed only Assidon’s fingerprints.

Surveillance footage from 300 meters away showed Assidon arriving alone at his home on the morning of August 9. He was wearing the same clothes in which he was later found, and his car remained parked in the same spot until police arrived.

Witness accounts

A construction worker at a neighboring property testified seeing Assidon pruning trees around 2:00 p.m. on August 9. The worker stated that Assidon continued working when he left at 5:00 p.m. The following morning, the worker noticed the ladder and cut grass still on the property.

The neighbor who requested the gardening work confirmed asking Assidon to trim plants in his yard. The two had agreed on this task, and the neighbor reported seeing Assidon performing the work on August 9.

Activist’s legacy and public response

Born in 1948 in Agadir, Sion Assidon is a significant figure in Moroccan activism. A former political prisoner and co-founder of the March 23 Movement, he is also a leading voice in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israeli policies. His injuries have sparked widespread solidarity campaigns in Morocco, with supporters calling for transparency in the investigation.

The Moroccan Front for Palestinian Support and Against Normalization organized a silent sit-in outside the hospital on Monday evening. The group previously criticized the lack of immediate updates from authorities and urged mobilization of state resources for Assidon’s care.

The Moroccan Observatory Against Normalization also issued a message of support, calling Assidon “one of Morocco’s great activists for the Palestinian cause” and wishing him a full recovery.

Ongoing investigation

The King’s Prosecutor General confirmed that the investigation is still underway, with legal measures to follow upon its conclusion. The circumstances surrounding Assidon’s injuries remain unclear, but authorities have emphasized their commitment to resolving the case.

A heavy police presence was reported around Sheikh Khalifa Hospital, where Assidon is receiving treatment. Advocacy groups have announced plans for further action to ensure full transparency in the case.