The 36 include the AMDH's well-known president, Abderrahmane Benameur, who is a prominent lawyer. Former opposition parties They all took part in what observers said was a relatively innocuous sit down protest in front of the parliament last December to mark International Human Rights Day. Mohammed VI has promised reform It was broken up by police on the grounds it was unauthorised. The incident reflects a continuing nervousness by the authorities about any expression of dissent. Yet the current government is a coalition of former opposition parties, whose leaders were themselves protesting only a few years ago about the government's refusal to reform.
Journalists continue to face regular intimidation.
Several have been given prison sentences this year. And one particular target for the government is the Islamic fundamentalists, over 100 of whom have been sent to prison in the last month for involvement in unauthorised demonstrations.