Morocco: CPJ Condemns Court's Rejection of Appeals By Jailed Journalists Soulaiman Raissouni and Omar Radi

19 July 2023
Committee to Protect Journalists (New York)

New York — In response to news reports that the Moroccan court of cassation in Rabat on Tuesday rejected the final appeals of jailed journalists Soulaiman Raissouni and Omar Radi, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation:

"We are deeply disappointed by the court's decision to keep Soulaiman Raissouni and Omar Radi behind bars by rejecting their final appeals," said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour. "Morocco lost an opportunity to reverse course on its retaliatory measures against independent journalists, whose voices the country so desperately needs."

Morocco's highest court upheld the journalists' sentences on Tuesday. The two were arrested in separate incidents in 2020; Raissouni is serving five years on a sexual assault conviction; and Radi is serving six years for sexual assault and undermining state security. Both deny the allegations and local press freedom advocates have told CPJ that they see the convictions as retaliation for their critical reporting.

The court also upheld the conviction of journalist Imad Stitou, who was arrested in connection with Radi's case and later freed pending appeal of his six-month reduced sentence. According to news reports, Stitou was tried in absentia because he left the country.

CPJ emailed the Moroccan Ministry of Interior for comment but did not receive any response.

Read the original article on CPJ.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2023 Committee to Protect Journalists. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.