Arrests and Searches in France Linked to a Network of Moroccan Lobbyists
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- A saga that began with the dismissal of Franco-Moroccan journalist Rachid M’Barki from “BFM TV” in February 2023 has taken an unexpected twist, unearthing a well-organized network operating to influence and spread disinformation within the French media, all in service of the Moroccan regime’s interests.
Beyond mere breaches of professional ethics, this investigation has unveiled a complex web of connections that reach into the highest echelons of political and journalistic influence, prompting French authorities to take swift action.
The legal proceedings in this case have now reached French courts, with one of the lobbyists, Jean-Pierre Detion, brought in for questioning and subsequently placed under judicial supervision. Further intensifying the scrutiny, the judicial police executed a search warrant at his residence after he confessed to receiving financial support from French citizens of Moroccan descent, including the controversial figure, “lobbyist” Nabil Nasser, who has been placed in preventive detention.
The initial spark for this far-reaching investigation was ignited following the publication of an exposé titled “Story Killers” on media disinformation last February. The piece was a collaborative effort between the “Forbidden Stories” consortium and the newspaper “Le Monde,” in addition to contributions from 15 other media outlets.
The extensive investigation unearthed damning evidence of phone espionage targeting not only French President Emmanuel Macron but also Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, numerous European ministers, as well as thousands of individuals opposing the Moroccan regime, Algerian officials, and journalists. These revelations have sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles.
According to sources cited within the investigation, Jean-Pierre Detion is to have coerced journalist Rachid M’Barki, who had been dismissed from “BFM TV,” into disseminating information that favored Moroccan interests. Subsequently, following his interventions on behalf of foreign entities, including the Moroccan regime, he was placed under judicial supervision on October 2, 2023, before his residence was subjected to a thorough search on October 4, 2023.
Adding another layer of intrigue to the case, it has come to light that Jean-Pierre Detion had engaged in a cooperative effort with an undisclosed Zionist entity. This entity, it was revealed, specializes in influence campaigns and is helmed by former military and intelligence operatives linked to the occupying entity. Authorities are now meticulously investigating whether Jean-Pierre Detion exchanged financial incentives with the Franco-Moroccan journalist in exchange for defending Moroccan interests on the channel, thereby violating journalistic ethics by misrepresenting Western Sahara as “Moroccan.”
The larger backdrop to this affair is the ongoing tension between the Moroccan regime and French President Emmanuel Macron, stemming from the unsettling revelation of Moroccan espionage involving the French leader’s phone. This revelation has had profound implications for the bilateral relations between the two parties, as well as casting a shadow over a controversial interaction between Macron and King Mohammed VI of Morocco, as reported by “Le Monde.”
