The European Parliament adopted the resolution on “the situation of journalists in Morocco, particularly the case of Omar Radi” on Thursday, January 19.
Through 356 votes in favor, 32 against and 42 abstentions, the text calls on the Moroccan government to “immediately release” all detained journalists, citing in particular Omar Radi, sentenced on appeal to 6 years in prison, Soulaiman Raissouni (5 years), and Taoufik Bouachrine (15 years).
An official source spoke to Hespress AR, denouncing an orchestrated “media attack based on allegations that our country is taking measures to influence European decisions, especially within the European Parliament, on topics related to the Kingdom (Moroccan Sahara, trade agreements, human rights, etc.).”
The journalists in question are all serving time for sexual assault charges brought against them by Moroccan civilian victims, with Radi’s case being the most recent, still undergoing judicial procedure.
Speaking under the condition of anonymity, the same source highlighted that “Morocco, like all countries, has always defended its interests in the context of its relations with its various foreign partners,” adding that “Morocco’s achievements are what bother some parties and provoke inappropriate and incomprehensible reactions/maneuvers.”
The official says that the goal is to “slow down the positive dynamics witnessed by the Morocco-EU partnership. This is not the first time the Kingdom has been subjected to attacks aimed at weakening and discrediting the government within the European Parliament.”
“Morocco has become a target of certain groups operating within the European Parliament in the service of a hidden agenda,” he said, adding that Morocco does not accept this hateful and unjustified political media campaign.
Prior to this vote, Chairman of the Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee Lahcen Haddad condemned the draft resolution, saying it’s objective is to interfere in Morocco’s judiciary system.
Haddad said this is “a case still in trial before an independent judiciary of a partner country, and thereby the resolution interferes in an ongoing judicial process, which is in contradiction with the fundamental principles of human rights” and sovereignty.
In a letter addressed to MEPs on behalf of the Moroccan members of the Commission, Haddad recalled that “several parties have sought to have people believe, in the name of human rights, that this person (Radi) has been unjustly and arbitrarily imprisoned for his opinions, when in reality he is a detainee by virtue of common law as he is accused of rape.”
Morocco has “since 2016 purged the press code (the law on the rights of journalists) of prison sentences for journalists, Haddad said, and that the conditions of fair trial were upheld, that the arrest procedures were in accordance with the law of criminal procedure provisions, and that the defense requests were granted by the Judges.
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