Former Moroccan leader of opposition The charismatic personality Abdessalam Yassine was the leader of Morocco's largest opposition movement, Adl wal Ihsan (Justice and Spirituality), and a long-time opponent of two Moroccan kings. During the Arab Spring, his group was an important part of the pro-democracy movement that demonstrated in the streets for much of 2011 for political reform and an end to corruption. His calling was for less power for the hereditary monarchy and more power for elected officials. Formed in 1987, Adl wal Ihsan is officially banned but tolerated, though its members are frequently harassed or arrested by the police, and Abdessalam Yassine spent nine years under house arrest. Born in Marrakesh Abdessalam Yassine wrote two books advocating an Islamic state in Morocco before he rose to fame in 1974 by publishing 'Islam or the Deluge,' an open letter to King Hassan II. He accused the king of corruption and subservience to Western mores, questioned whether he was a true Muslim and called on him to step down. After King Hassan died in 1999 and his son assumed the throne as Mohammed VI, Abdessalam Yassine was released from house arrest in May 2000 in a string of gestures intended to show a break with the past.