Nearly 300 rights advocates demand Morocco annul activist Fouad Abdelmoumni’s prison sentence for spreading alleged false information on social media regarding espionage. Critics argue his prosecution under the penal code is part of a larger repressive trend against free expression in the region.
In a recent development, nearly 300 rights advocates and experts from North Africa and France have signed a petition urging Moroccan authorities to release activist Fouad Abdelmoumni, who was sentenced to six months in prison for allegedly spreading false information. The charges stemmed from a Facebook post where Abdelmoumni claimed Morocco had conducted espionage operations against France.
The petition, which has garnered 295 signatures to date, highlights concerns that Abdelmoumni should have been prosecuted under the press code, which does not endorse imprisonment. Instead, he faced charges under the penal code, raising alarms about the law’s application in his case, as noted within the petition shared on his Facebook page.
The petition asserts that the sentence reflects a broader trend of repressive policies across the region aimed at stifling freedom of expression and silencing dissent regarding human rights and democratic values. The advocates called for an annulment of his sentence and demanded the release of all political prisoners in Morocco and throughout the Maghreb region.
Notable signatories of the petition include former Doctors Without Borders president Rony Brauman, historian Sophie Bessis, and prominent Tunisian activists Mokhat Trifi and Sana Ben Achour. Earlier, Abdelmoumni’s post coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit, a time considered significant for improving Morocco-France diplomatic relations following three years of tension due to espionage allegations.
Prosecutors claimed that Abdelmoumni’s statements were detrimental to Morocco’s interests and exceeded the bounds of permissible free expression, categorizing them as criminal offenses. These claims surfaced amid prior accusations against Morocco, alleging that it used Israeli-developed Pegasus spyware to monitor key figures, including President Macron, a report established by the journalistic group Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International—allegations that Morocco has vehemently denied as unfounded.
The situation surrounding Fouad Abdelmoumni highlights significant concerns regarding freedom of expression in Morocco. The widespread support from rights advocates underscores the urgent call for his release and a reconsideration of the legal charges he faces. The incident also reflects broader regional issues, where governments are perceived to suppress dissenting voices advocating for human rights and democracy.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
