Amnesty International is ready to make an official apology over its accusations of Morocco’s use of the Pegasus spying program, announced Mohamed Sektaoui, the organization’s secretary-general in Morocco.
Produced by the NSO group, Pegasus software allows spying on the device user where installed, accessing messaging and data, capturing sound and images.
According to claims of Amnesty International and other NGOs, Moroccan civilian activists were targeted, as well as political national, and international actors.
On the occasion of presenting its annual report on Wednesday in Rabat, Mohamed Sektaoui recalled that this case is under review by international justice. Sektaoui added that if the judicial decision is issued in favor of the Kingdom, the organization will present its “official apology, courageously saying that it has made a mistake.”
In its annual report on human rights entitled “The State of the World’s Human Rights,” Amnesty International once again pointed out Morocco, criticizing the kingdom for “arbitrary restrict of freedom,” “ill-treatment and harassment,” and other unjust practices.
As it is not the first time that the Organization has depicted a negative assessment of the state of human rights in Morocco, Amnesty International asserts that the COVID-19 pandemic amplified the poor state of human rights in the kingdom.
“Freedom of Assembly, Right to Health”
According to the report, authorities had repressed peaceful protestors, including teachers “demanding improved working conditions and used the health emergency decree-law to suppress workers’ grievances” at least four times.
The report also noted that the government introduced an obligatory COVID-19 vaccine pass to enter workplaces, public and private administrations, and other public spaces and the obligation to possess the pass to travel inside and outside Morocco. Meanwhile, according to the same source, doctors continue to strike occasionally for “improved pay and working and better resourced public hospitals.”
“Right to Privacy, Torture and Other Ill-Treatment”
Amnesty International noted that Moroccan authorities have been using “extensively” the Pegasus surveillance spyware to spy on journalists, activists, and national and international political figures.
The organization also claimed that “some prisoners were held in harsh conditions, including prolonged and indefinite solitary confinement, in violation of the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment.”
“Women’s and Girl’s Rights, LGBTI’s Rights”
Based on data from national associations, the report noted that violence against women has increased since the pandemic, with growing numbers of girls forced into child marriage and women forced to leave work. These claims of the report contest data of Moroccan national authorities that concluded otherwise.
Concerning LGBTI, the report mentioned that the Moroccan Penal Code continues to “criminalize consensual same-sex sexual relations.” The report also referred to the recent law regarding gender reassignment concerning people born hermaphrodites. The Organization reported that the LGBTI contests this law for its “vagueness and lack of reference to transgender people.”
“Refugees and Migrant’s Rights”
According to the document, Moroccan authorities “arrested and arbitrarily detained migrants and asylum seekers during the year,” in addition to deportation and expulsion of Sub-Saharan nationals, “sometimes burning their belongings or forcibly evicting them.”
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