Imprisoned since May 2020, he was sentenced on appeal in February 2022 to five years in prison for “sexual assault” against a LGBT+activist, facts he disputes.
Le Monde with AFP
The detention of Moroccan journalist Soulaimane Raissouni is “arbitrary” and he must be released “immediately”, judged a UN working group in a notice consulted Tuesday, October 11 by AFP. Imprisoned since May 2020, Mr. Raissouni was sentenced on appeal in February 2022 to five years in prison for “sexual assault” against a young LGBT+activist, facts he disputes.
This former editor -in -chief of the Arabic -speaking newspaper Akhbar Al Yaoum claims to have been prosecuted “because of his opinions”. His supporters denounced a “political trial”. Following the examination of its case, the UN working group on arbitrary detention concluded that “violations of the right to a fair trial are of a gravity such that they make the detention of Mr. Arbitrary raissouni “.
” Long concern “
The group “believes that the appropriate measure consists in immediately freeing the journalist and” expresses his great concern about his physical and psychological well-being “, according to an opinion transmitted to AFP by the support committee by M. Raissouni.
The Moroccan journalist had undertaken a hunger strike from April to August 2021, leaving him “many consequences”, according to UN experts. He did not attend most of his trial at first instance – between February and July 2021 – due to this 122 -day hunger strike.
He had been arrested two days after the publication of an editorial in which he reproached the authorities their excess of zeal in the application of the legislation on the state of emergency during the pandemic of COVID-19. According to the UN working group, the editorial in question “is freedom of expression”. Mr. Raissouni “is detained for having peacefully exercise this right”. For the Moroccan authorities, on the other hand, the prosecution “have nothing to do with his journalistic work”.
Two other Moroccan journalists, Omar Radi and Taoufik Bouachrine, were also sentenced to heavy prison sentences for sexual assaults they deny. Mr. Radi, whose appeal trial is underway, is also accused of “espionage”. Morocco occupies the 136