Moroccan Association for Human Rights reveals alarming rise in politically motivated lawsuits and heavy sentences against online critics
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS, August 4, 2023 – The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) has sounded the alarm over a disturbing surge in legal proceedings against Internet users who dared to criticize the authorities on social media platforms. According to a damning report presented in Rabat on Thursday, the AMDH revealed that “dozens of legal proceedings” have been initiated in the past two years, resulting in heavy prison sentences for those expressing their political opinions online or participating in peaceful demonstrations.
The AMDH, one of the most prominent human rights NGOs in Morocco, brought attention to the alarming situation, highlighting that the prosecuted individuals faced charges related to their political beliefs, investigative work, press articles shared on social networks, or simply their involvement in peaceful protests.
The severity of the sentences has raised concerns, with punishments ranging from a few months in prison to an astonishing six years of detention, as documented by the Moroccan NGO.
In a concerning trend, activists and ordinary citizens alike have been subjected to separate cases and charged with offenses such as “undermining the Islamic religion or the monarchical regime” and “insulting public officials,” as revealed by the AMDH.
One particularly striking instance of this politico-judicial harassment occurred last Monday in Casablanca, when Saïd Boukioud, an Internet user, was handed an appalling five-year prison sentence for offending the monarchy. The 48-year-old Moroccan had taken to his Facebook page to denounce the “normalization” of the Makhzen with the Zionist entity.
Saïd Boukioud’s conviction was based on Article 267-5 of the Penal Code, which threatens six months to two years in prison for those “undermining the monarchical regime.” Astonishingly, if the alleged offense is committed publicly, including through electronic means, the punishment can be increased to five years behind bars.
Human rights defenders have vehemently denounced this law, stressing that it suppresses freedom of expression, as its wording fails to provide a clear definition of what actions can be deemed an “attack” on the monarchy.
The Moroccan Court of Cassation’s rejection of the appeal filed by independent journalists Omar Radi and Soulaimane Raissouni has further fueled the outrage. Both journalists had been sentenced in 2021 to six and five years in prison, respectively, based on charges they firmly deny.
The situation has raised concerns within the international community, with several human rights organizations calling on the Moroccan authorities to respect the right to freedom of expression and to cease the targeting of Internet users critical of the government.
