The trial of Moroccan journalist Omar Radi is the «latest episode» of a series of human rights violations in Morocco, especially when it comes to freedom of speech and opinion, Morocco’s Moulay Hicham said on Saturday. In a Facebook post, he said that «protecting national institutions is one thing but using law to continuously crush public debate is another thing». To King Mohammed VI's first cousin, issues «cannot be dealt with in depth without having
«Moroccan authorities should unconditionally release and drop charges against a journalist jailed for a 9 months-old tweet criticizing a judge», wrote international NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW), Saturday, referring to Moroccan journalist Omar Radi. «Criticizing officials is protected speech and no one should face prison time for peacefully doing so», said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, adding that Omar Radi’s
Raja Felgata is a Moroccan-Dutch media entrepreneur who is determined to change the way Moroccans and people of color are portrayed by Dutch media. Her recent project is called FATIMA, a movement to empower women of Moroccan descent in the Netherlands.
Moroccan NGOs have denounced the recent crackdown on freedom of speech, referring to the recent arrests and trials that targeted a YouTuber, rapper and journalist.
For the first time, NASA releases a colorful photo of Morocco’s Anti-Atlas Mountains, showing the rocks and folding of the mountains. The image was taken more than 700 kilometers above Earth's surface by NASA’s Terra satellite.
A Casablanca court handed, Thursday, a group of Israelis accused of falsifying documents prison sentences ranging from six months to six years. The main suspect Mimoun B., who is believed to be the head of the network, as well as Moroccan women I.J and A.B were sentenced to six years in prison, media reports said. Two other Moroccans, including one who worked as a driver, and a Moroccan Jew, were sentenced to four years in prison. On Thursday morning, the 28 defendants denied the
Moroccan officials attended, Sunday, a Hanukkah celebration in Casablanca alongside members of the Jewish community in the country. A Jewish group saw the step as a first in Morocco, Times of Israel wrote on Thursday. The same source indicates that 800 people from the Moroccan-Jewish community attended the event, held at a Casablanca hotel. The celebration was reportedly attended by Said Ahmidouch, the wali, or local governor, of the Casablanca-Settat region, and Rachid Afirat, governor of the
Maritime services of Ceuta’s Civil Guard intercepted two inflatable boats, Thursday, carrying 18 Moroccan citizens. The men in question were heading to the Andalusian coasts in an attempt to enter Spain, Europa Press reports. The first rescue operation was conducted near Punta Almina, where ten Moroccan migrants were rescued. Fifteen minutes later, authorities prevented eight other Moroccan citizens from leaving the Calamocarro beach in Ceuta. One of the eight migrants is a minor,
The Moroccan government refuses to react to the latest statements of Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune on the Western Sahara question. «Morocco's policy is serene. It is important to take time when it comes to this subject», explained the government spokesman, Hassan Abyaba, during a press briefing held this afternoon. He added that the kingdom avoids «hastiness» when announcing its positions. Shortly after he was elected president of Algeria, Tebboune said that
After he was brought before the prosecutor earlier on Thursday, Moroccan journalist Omar Radi is charged with «offending a judge». The alleged offence is related to a tweet he published earlier this year, referring to a Hirak judge.