The defense of the journalist, known for his critical tone towards the authorities, decided to appeal in cassation, and denounces the “faults” of the Prosecution.
Le Monde
Moroccan justice confirmed a severe five-year sentence in prison against the independent journalist Soulaimane raissouni, for “sexual assault”, an accusation he rejected throughout his trial. “This judgment is the proof that we want to take revenge of Mr. Raissouni. We are very disappointed, it was expected to be innocent with all the flaws exposed throughout the trial,” Declared at the exit of the Casablanca Court of Appeal his advice, M e Miloud Kandil, at the France-Presse agency. The journalist’s defense immediately decided to appeal in cassation, at the end of a hearing that lasted eight hours.
As at first instance, the imprisonment is accompanied by damages of 100,000 dirhams (about € 9,500) in favor of the complainant. The verdict was welcomed by the support of Mr Raissouni – who had filled a hearing room – the cry of “trial”. “Soulaimane be reassured, we will continue the fight,” they promised.
m. Raissouni, a 49-year-old editorialist, known for his critical tone vis-à-vis the authorities, was accused of “sexual assault” by a young LGBTQ activist, the burden he has always rejected before the Tribunal, considering being pursued ” because of his opinions “. It was punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. The bombing with powder with violence “is punished by the inclusion of five to ten years”, according to the Moroccan Penal Code.
Many “Frames”
“We are not satisfied even if the damages have been confirmed. This sum can not do justice to a person who has been a victim of sexual assault,” said the civilian party’s advocate, Aïcha El Guellaa.
The investigation had been opened following a publication on Facebook in which the accuser incriminated, under pseudonym, Mr. Raissouni for having sexually assaulted. The complaint was also based on a recorded – but not distributed conversation during the trial – and exchanges on the Messenger messaging system.
In front of the Court, the complainant reiterated his version of the facts and explained to have “suffered psychological repercussions as a result of the aggression”. Former, the former editor of the Akhbar Al Yaoum newspaper and his lawyers have shred several times the “faults” of the file. “This case is enamelled by the complainant’s lies. Throughout the judicial process, he contradicted,” said Mr. Raissouni by listing the “contradictions” by point. The floor considered that the evidence of Mr. Raissouni’s guilt were “irrefutable”.
Hunger strike
Arrested in May 2020, the journalist had not attended most of his trial at first instance – between February and July 2021 – due to a 122-day hunger strike. Its support committee in Morocco has lasted a “political and Revanhard” trial. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) pleaded for the journalist – engaged in the defense of freedom of the press – be released pending “a fair trial”.
For the Moroccan authorities, Mr. Raissouni benefited from a “fair” trial and these prosecutions “have nothing to do with his journalistic work”.
Two other Moroccan journalists, Omar Radi and Taoufik Bouachrine, were sentenced to heavy prison sentences for sexual assault they deny. Mr. Radi, whose appeal trial is in progress, is also accused of “espionage”.
Morocco occupies the 136 e place on 180 countries of the world ranking of Freedom of the RSF press. Wednesday, in another controversial procedure, the lawyer and former Minister of Human Rights, Mohamed Ziane, was sentenced to three years in prison following a complaint filed against him by the Ministry of the Interior. However, it was left at liberty.