Morocco releases imprisoned journalists after pardons from King Mohamed VI
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Morocco releases imprisoned journalists after pardons from King Mohamed VI

Associated Press  

RABAT, Morocco — Three journalists who were sentenced to years in prison after writing about corruption and abuse of power in Morocco were released Monday after receiving pardons from King Mohammed VI. Human rights activists applauded the pardons, but said the move didn’t exonerate what they have called the politically motivated manner in which Moroccan authorities pursued and prosecuted the journalists. “In the late 2010s, authorities started to prosecute critics for serious crimes such as money laundering, espionage, rape, or sexual assault, and even human trafficking.” The lurid allegations against the journalists received voluminous coverage in media outlets seen as close to Moroccan authorities. Bouachrine, an opinion columnist and editor of a critical independent newspaper Akhbar al-Youm, was sentenced to 12 years behind bars in 2018 after being found guilty of human trafficking, sexual assault and rape.

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History of this topic

Algerian Government Pardons Journalist Ihsane El Kadi, Releasing 8 Others in Amnesty Gesture
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Algerian Government Pardons Journalist Ihsane El Kadi, Releasing 8 Others in Amnesty Gesture

Associated Press  

Algeria releases a journalist, Ihsane El Kadi, who emerged as a key voice during the 2019 pro-democracy protests. El Kadi was imprisoned for taking foreign funding for his media outlets and threatening state security. His release coincides with the 70th anniversary of the start of Algeria's revolution.

Moroccan ex-minister who defended government critics sentenced to five years
5 months ago

Moroccan ex-minister who defended government critics sentenced to five years

Associated Press  

RABAT, Morocco — Mohamed Ziane, an ex-Moroccan minister of human rights, was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday in a corruption case that his attorney described as retribution for outspokenness and work defending political prisoners. The group described the case against Ziane as “purely political, aiming to humiliate and subjugate the man and discourage him from expressing his …

‘Down with dictatorship’: Tunisians rally against gov’t crackdown on media
6 months, 4 weeks ago

‘Down with dictatorship’: Tunisians rally against gov’t crackdown on media

Al Jazeera  

Demonstration comes after two Tunisian commentators critical of President Saeid were sentenced to prison. Several hundred Tunisians have marched through the capital, Tunis, chanting “down with the dictatorship” as they protested a spate of arrests under a presidential decree critics say is being used to stifle dissent. Two Tunisian media figures received one-year jail sentences in recent days after making …

Tunisia sentences journalists to a year in prison for criticizing the government
7 months ago

Tunisia sentences journalists to a year in prison for criticizing the government

Associated Press  

TUNIS, Tunisia — A Tunisian court on Wednesday sentenced two TV and radio journalists to one year in prison for criticizing the government on their programs and on social networks. Borhane Bsaïs and Mourad Zeghidi were each given six months’ imprisonment for disseminating “fake news” and an additional six months for “making false statements with the aim of defaming others,” …

2 journalists in detention in Tunisia as authorities launch wave of arrests against critics
7 months, 1 week ago

2 journalists in detention in Tunisia as authorities launch wave of arrests against critics

Associated Press  

TUNIS, Tunisia — Two journalists were kept under detention in Tunisia on Wednesday, following a raft of arrests targeting government critics including lawyers and the press that has drawn concern from the country’s international allies. Khaled Drareni, Reporters Without Borders’ North Africa representative, called the arrests “a frontal attack on press freedom.” In a statement he called for “an end …

Families of imprisoned Tunisian dissidents turn to the International Criminal Court seeking justice
1 year, 2 months ago

Families of imprisoned Tunisian dissidents turn to the International Criminal Court seeking justice

Associated Press  

TUNIS, Tunisia — Family members of seven imprisoned Tunisian opposition figures took their quest for justice on Thursday to the International Criminal Court, announcing plans to ask the tribunal to investigate claims of political persecution and human rights violations by President Kais Saied’s administration. However, Saied’s government has cracked down on opponents and jailed dissidents, including opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi …

2 French journalists expelled from Morocco as tensions revive between Rabat and Paris
1 year, 3 months ago

2 French journalists expelled from Morocco as tensions revive between Rabat and Paris

Associated Press  

PARIS — Two French journalists have been expelled from Morocco this week in a move denounced by media outlets and press freedom advocates. The Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders both denounced the expulsions on X, with the latter describing them as a “brutal and inadmissible attack on press freedom.” Moroccan government spokesperson Mustapha Baitas said on Thursday …

Moroccan lawmakers denounce European Parliament criticism
1 year, 11 months ago

Moroccan lawmakers denounce European Parliament criticism

Associated Press  

RABAT, Morocco — The Moroccan Parliament decided Monday to reconsider its ties with the European Parliament and subject them to a comprehensive evaluation after the EU legislature criticized the state of press freedoms in Morocco. The decision followed an extraordinary joint plenary session of Morocco’s two houses of Parliament in Rabat on Monday that was convened to address the European …

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