King Mohammed VI of Morocco announced on Monday the release of three journalists who had been imprisoned for extended periods, marking a significant gesture in light of his 25 years on the throne. The pardoned journalists—Omar Radi, Soulaimane Raissouni, and Taoufik Bouachrine—were among a total of 2,476 individuals whose sentences were commuted. Additionally, Maati Monjib, a historian and rights advocate, was included in this group, as noted by a government source who preferred to remain unnamed.
The detainment of Radi and Raissouni, who had been incarcerated since 2021 on sexual assault charges they continue to deny, has drawn criticism from various human rights organizations, particularly Reporters Without Borders. Human Rights Watch has also addressed concerns that Morocco employs criminal trials, especially regarding alleged sexual offenses, as a means to repress journalists and those opposing the government. The nation's highest court had dismissed the final appeals of two of these journalists as recently as July 2023, further raising alarms about press freedom in the country, which is ranked 129th out of 180 in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index conducted by RSF.
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