Rights groups call for release of Morocco journalist imprisoned for social media posts News
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Rights groups call for release of Morocco journalist imprisoned for social media posts

Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) condemned the sentencing of Moroccan political activist and human rights defender Fouad Abdelmoumni to six months in prison for his social media posts criticizing the government. The rights organizations urged the authorities to overturn the conviction and cease restrictive actions targeting journalists and activists for exercising their right to free speech.

HRW Middle East and North Africa director Belkees Jarrah criticized the conviction and said the case was part of a broader crackdown on journalists and human rights activists in the country. Jarrah stated: “Dragging yet another Moroccan activist into court and sentencing him to prison merely for expressing an opinion about relations between Morocco and another country shows just how outrageous this crackdown on free speech is.”

The rights groups urged Moroccan authorities to adhere to their obligations under the Moroccan Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), both of which protect and guarantee the right to freedom of expression and privacy.

On March 3, a Casablanca court sentenced Abdelmoumni in absentia to six months in prison and imposed a fine for a Facebook post that criticized Morocco’s relations with France during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Morocco on October 28, 2024. In the post, Abdelmoumni accused the government of using spyware to target dissidents and activists. The court convicted Abdelmoumni for “insulting public authorities, spreading false allegations, and reporting a fictitious crime he knew did not occur.” Additionally, the prosecution denied any involvement from Moroccan authorities in spying on political dissidents, claiming that the allegations made by Abdelmoumni lacked evidence. They further added that the activist’s statements went beyond the limits of freedom of expression and amounted to criminal offenses.

Abdelmoumni is known for his political activism and criticism of Morocco’s political system. He also serves as the coordinator of the Moroccan Association in Support of Political Prisoners. HRW noted that he has faced restrictive measures and harassment from authorities, including digital surveillance through Pegasus spyware, which was used to monitor him and his contacts. Relatedly, investigations by Amnesty International revealed that Moroccan authorities used Pegasus spyware in 2019 to hack the smartphones of several individuals, including journalists and rights advocates, a claim that the Moroccan authorities have denied.

Abdelmoumni’s arrest is reminiscent of the case of journalist Hamid El Mahdaoui, who was sentenced to prison for defaming Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi. El Mahdaoui was sentenced to 18 months in prison for posting a video that alleged the justice minister received a luxury car from a woman involved in an active legal case.

In response to his conviction, Abdelmoumni said that he would appeal the court’s verdict. Furthermore, a group of 300 activists and rights advocates signed a petition calling on the authorities to annul the conviction.

In 2024, Reporters Without Borders ranked Morocco 129 out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index. Freedom House similarly provided the country a low ranking, giving it a score of 37 out of 100 on its Freedom in the World 2025 Report.

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