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Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) is deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating situation regarding freedom of expression and human rights in Morocco.
This deterioration is starkly illustrated by the recent arrest and detention of 13-year-old Malak al-Tahiri in a child protection center, and the six-month prison sentence imposed on human rights activist Fouad Abdelmoumni for expressing his views on social media.
Al-Tahiri's arrest on March 6th on charges of defamation, threats, and insulting a constitutional body represents a grave violation of children's rights. Despite her age, she remains detained in a child protection center pending trial on March 13th, a clear breach of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Her detention, without access to appropriate legal representation and support, is unacceptable.
This action is part of a broader pattern targeting the family of Canadian YouTuber Hicham Gerando, apparently in retaliation for his reporting on corruption. This blatant misuse of the judicial system to settle political scores undermines the rule of law and severely damages Morocco's international reputation.
Similarly, Abdelmoumni's six-month prison sentence, handed down on March 4th for a Facebook post criticizing French foreign policy, demonstrates a systematic effort to suppress dissent. His conviction under the Penal Code, rather than the Press and Publications Law, signals a deliberate attempt to circumvent legal protections for freedom of expression.
These cases are not isolated incidents. WJWC notes a disturbing pattern of targeting independent journalists, activists, and human rights defenders, including prominent figures such as Mohammed Ziane, Maati Monjib, members of the Rif movement, and activists from the Moroccan Front to Support Palestine and Combat Normalization (including Ismail Ghazzawi, Abdelilah Benabdeslam, and Tayeb Madmad).
This systematic assault on fundamental freedoms, using the judiciary as a tool of repression, severely undermines Morocco's commitment to human rights and its international obligations. This escalating crackdown risks further isolating Morocco on the global stage.
Women Journalists Without Chains demands the immediate and unconditional release of Malak Al-Tahiri and Fouad Abdelmoumni, an end to the judicial persecution of journalists and activists, the release of all political prisoners, and urgent legal reforms aligning Moroccan law with international human rights standards, ensuring freedom of expression and an independent judiciary free from political interference. Al-Tahiri's rights as a child, including access to legal counsel and appropriate care, must be fully protected.
WJWC calls upon the international community and human rights organizations to exert immediate pressure on the Moroccan government to halt this repression and uphold its human rights obligations. The ongoing erosion of fundamental freedoms in Morocco demands urgent attention and decisive action.
Released by:
Women Journalists Without Chains
March 7, 2025
