Morocco releases jailed journalists after King Mohammed VI pardon

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Monday pardoned three journalists accused of sex crimes and espionage in prosecutions widely condemned by press freedom advocates as retaliation for critical reporting.

Omar Radi, Taoufik Bouachrine and Soulaimane Raissouni were among 2,278 people pardoned this week, according to Morocco’s Ministry of Justice. The pardons were announced as Morocco celebrated Throne Day, marking the anniversary of Mohammed VI’s ascension to the throne.

For more than four years, the journalists have been emblematic of Morocco’s aggressive efforts to stifle criticism from the news media and human rights activists. Civil liberties advocates, the European Parliament and the US State Department have at various times condemned their prosecutions as politically motivated.

The three Moroccan journalists were known for their critical reporting and remarks about the kingdom’s government and its policies.

Bouachrine, an outspoken columnist and one-time editor of the independent newspaper Akhbar al-Youm, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2018 after being found guilty of human trafficking, sexual assault and rape.

Raissouni, also a former editor of Akhbar al-Youm, was sentenced to five years in prison on charges that included sexual assault in 2021.

Radi, an investigative reporter and activist, was sentenced to six years in 2021 on charges of espionage and sexual assault.

Organizations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders have strongly condemned the prosecutions as politically motivated.

“Allegations of sex crimes have become another tool for authorities to punish journalists,” wrote the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Middle East and North Africa program in 2021.

The cases were among those thrust into the spotlight when Amnesty International and the Paris-based journalism consortium Forbidden Stories published documents suggesting the three journalists were among those spied on by Moroccan officials using malware installed on their smartphones. The authorities strongly denied that he had done so.

Supporters of the journalists applauded their release, but pointed out how they believed the journalists were jailed after unfair trials.

“Congratulations. Waiting for others – and democracy,” human rights activist Fouad Abdelmoumni wrote on Facebook.

Sam Metz, The Associated Press