People
Mohamed El Baroudi
Mohamed El Baroudi is an iconic figure in Moroccan politics, exiled in Belgium, and a major player in social movements. Born in Morocco, he quickly distinguished himself through his activism against French occupation and opposition to King Hassan II's regime. Influenced by leading figures of the Moroccan national movement such as Mehdi Ben Barka and Abderrahim Bouabid, he was deeply involved in Morocco's struggle for independence. After independence, he joined the Union Nationale des Forces Populaires (UNFP), a political party founded by Abdellah Ibrahim and Mehdi Ben Barka, who were dissidents from the Istiqlal party. Following the events of 1963, marked by severe repression of the left-wing political opposition, he chose the path of exile. It was a decision he never regretted, despite the royal amnesty of 1994, which he refused, insisting on the need for legislative reforms to accompany this pardon. During his exile in Belgium, he established cells of the clandestine organization Ilal Amam and became a central figure in Moroccan activism and liberation movements worldwide. He invested heavily in the Moroccan community in Belgium, contributing to the founding of several associations such as the Regroupement Démocratique Marocain (RDM) and the Association des Marocains de Belgique pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme (AMBDH). In Belgium, El Baroudi also played a crucial role in education and literacy. He participated in the creation of homework and literacy schools called "Lire et Écrire" and was a key player in the Brussels associative movement. Mohamed El Baroudi passed away on June 21, 2007, leaving behind a legacy that instills in younger generations a sense of commitment to human rights and social justice.