Morocco: ASDHOM slams Makhzen’ systematic persecution of Dounia, Adnane Filali, calls on French authorities to abide by international obligations
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- The Association for the Defense of Human Rights in Morocco (ASDHOM) slammed the Moroccan regime’ systematic persecution of the Moroccan journalists and human rights defenders Adnane and Dounia Filali due to their journalistic activities.
In this vein, the association denounced the immoral, illegal, and inhumane cross-border repression exercised by the Moroccan regime and its intelligence services against the couple with a view to stifling their voices. In a press release, the association listed the methods of persecution used by the Moroccan regime against them, that may endanger their lives, namely;
• National and international defamatory media campaigns;
• False accusations of all kinds;
• Calls for murder and aggravated death threats;
• Dissemination of their private and personal information;
• Constant disclosure of their addresses and those of their relatives;
• Repeated attempts to infiltrate their devices (computers and smartphones);
Additionally, the ASDHOM regretted “the complicity of the French authorities that are turning a blind eye to these alarming facts in blatant violation of Article R-531-7 governing the right to asylum, especially that they are deprived of their political and human refugee rights (care, housing, financial aid, etc.)”. Besides, all the complaints they lodged relating to accusations of defamation, threats of beheadings, death threats, etc. were rejected for no logical reason. All their requests for a lawyer were denied.
Noting that the human rights defenders are present on French soil as political refugees benefiting from UNHCR protection in China (under strict mandate Articles 5 and 6 of the 1951 Geneva Convention) following the persecution they are still suffering at the hands of the Moroccan regime and its intelligence services due to their journalistic activities.
Accordingly, the ASDHOM reiterated its full support to Mrs. and Mr. Filali, urging the French authorities to fully abide by their international obligations since the Moroccan journalists are recognized as political refugees by the UNHCR, which stresses on the protection of their physical and moral integrity in full compliance with the international conventions and agreements guaranteeing the rights to life and asylum.
