Morocco’s Desperation to Whitewash Its Image Amid the “Pegasus” Scandal: After Failing in Legal Battles, the Moroccan Regime Finally Decides Not to Appeal against a Spanish Journalist!

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | December 21st, 2024 — Morocco’s ongoing attempts to distance itself from the “Pegasus” spyware scandal, which saw its intelligence services infiltrating the phones of various European officials, including those of Algerians, have now hit a new low. Following multiple legal defeats in France and Spain, the Moroccan regime has finally given up on appealing a case against prominent Spanish journalist Ignacio Samperiro.

Samperiro, who is highly knowledgeable about the Moroccan regime after spending over two decades as a reporter for Spain’s El País from Rabat, had accused the Moroccan intelligence agency of spying on his phone. The Moroccan government’s decision not to pursue the case further comes after the Madrid Regional Court rejected the complaint, ruling against the Moroccan government’s claims of “defamation” leveled at Samperiro for his accusations of espionage.

The move marks the regime’s retreat in a series of legal battles aimed at suppressing coverage of its involvement in the Pegasus scandal. It seems that Moroccan authorities have realized the futility of continuing their legal crusade against journalists and publications that have reported on the country’s role in orchestrating espionage using the Zionist-developed Pegasus software. The regime’s legal losses have been widespread, including failed cases against Le Monde, the investigative outlet Mediapart, Germany’s Zeit Online, and Süddeutsche Zeitung. In the case of Spain, the country’s courts also dismissed a lawsuit filed against Samperiro, further weakening Morocco’s credibility in the eyes of European justice.

The Moroccan government’s retreat could signal its recognition of its diminishing ability to defend its actions on the international stage. This is compounded by the broader fallout from other scandals, such as the European bribery affair involving Moroccan diplomats and European parliamentarians. Several European officials have been convicted and imprisoned in Belgium for accepting bribes from Moroccan officials, and investigations are ongoing regarding further corruption links.

This is not Morocco’s first brush with scandal, and certainly not its last. Just last week, Spain’s El Periódico newspaper exposed another espionage operation in which a network of four Moroccan spies stole military information from the Canary Islands and the Spanish enclave of Melilla. This revelation underscores the continuous accusations against Morocco’s intelligence apparatus, which is seen by many in Europe as operating without regard for international laws or diplomatic norms.

Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands have all seen Moroccan espionage operations come to light. Belgian authorities have launched investigations into suspected Moroccan interference in their internal affairs, while German and Dutch law enforcement agencies have arrested Moroccan spies operating on European soil. These revelations paint a picture of a Moroccan regime unafraid to flout international laws, continuing its controversial practices across borders with apparent impunity.

In light of these numerous scandals, it is clear that the Moroccan regime’s efforts to whitewash its image—whether through legal means or diplomatic maneuvering—are increasingly falling apart. As its espionage activities and corruption scandals continue to unfold, the Moroccan government is left with little recourse but to abandon its futile attempts at suppressing international reporting. With its credibility eroded on multiple fronts, Morocco’s standing in the international community is rapidly diminishing.

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