Casablanca prosecutor orders investigation into Ouzzine’s phone spying claims

The chief prosecutor at Casablanca’s Court of Appeal ordered an investigation on Monday, September 14, into allegations by Popular Movement leader Mohamed Ouzzine that his party was being targeted through phone surveillance and attempted hacking.

The prosecutor’s office assigned the inquiry to the National Brigade of Judicial Police, saying investigators would establish whether the allegations were accurate and determine what legal action should follow.

The announcement came less than a day after Ouzzine accused unnamed actors of targeting his party during the election campaign. He spoke to reporters on Sunday at a gathering in Berrechid supporting local Popular Movement candidate Yassine Saadi.

In its statement, the prosecutor’s office cited a video circulating on social media in which the secretary-general of a political party alleged that his organization faced several forms of targeting, including phone spying.

The statement did not name Ouzzine. It said the investigation formed part of the prosecution’s legal responsibilities to ensure the proper application of the law and the orderly conduct of the electoral process.

Ouzzine said the alleged attacks had taken “new forms and methods,” accusing those responsible of resorting to personal attacks because they could not challenge the substance of his party’s election program.

He listed phone spying, attempted hacking and intrusions into private lives among the methods allegedly used, also referring to targeting that extended to people’s homes.

The Popular Movement leader said the attacks would not intimidate his party. He argued that its political positions and opposition to what he described as declining standards in public debate had made such pressure predictable.

He urged political rivals to debate programs and ideas concerning Moroccans’ future rather than focus on personal lives.