Mohamed Belhassan Wazzani

Mohamed Belhassan Wazzani was born in 1910 in Fez, and grew up in his hometown, studying at the University of al-Qarawiyyin. In 1927, he went to Paris to pursue his studies in political sciences. In 1933, he founded the nationalist French-speaking newspaper L'Action du Peuple, which was the first anti-colonial French-speaking newspaper in Morocco.[1]

In 1934, Wazzani started his activity in the Moroccan nationalist movement, of which he was one of the leaders together with Allal al-Fassi. In 1937, and after a disagreement with Al Fassi, Wazzani distanced himself from Al Fassi and founded a separate movement.[2] In the same year, he was arrested by the French and exiled to the Sahara, where he remained until 1946.

In 1946, and upon his return from exile, he went to Casablanca and founded the Democratic Independence Party, asking for the full independence of Morocco and for the implementation of a constitution based on a constitutional monarchy.

In 1960, and after Morocco's independence, Wazzani became a minister of state in the government.

In 1971, and after the 1971 coup attempt, Wazzani lost his right hand, and learned to write with his left hand.[3]

Mohamed Belhassan Wazzani died in Fez on 9 September 1978.