A Moroccan activist, Rabie Al-Ablaq, was sentenced to four years in prison on Monday April 25 for attacking King Mohammed VI. had “offended” on social media, as we learned from his defense. “The Al Hoceima Court of First Instance [nord] Rabie Al-Ablaq sentenced to four years in prison for electronically insulting the king,” his lawyer Abdelmajid Azaryah told AFP.
The 35-year-old citizen activist and journalist also has to pay a fine of 20,000 dirhams (around 1,900 euros). His lawyer has announced that he will appeal. Mr Al-Ablaq appeared free before Al Hoceima Court, where his trial opened on April 11.
On Facebook and YouTube
The accused was prosecuted, according to his lawyer, for “publishing videos criticizing social inequalities and corruption”. “I was shocked by this verdict because it [M. Al Ablaq] just expressed his opinion. I don’t think he harmed the institution [royale]. »
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the charges stem from two videos posted to Facebook and YouTube in September and November 2021, in which Mr Al-Ablaq “addressed the king in a familiar tone, emphasizing the contrast between his personal wealth and the widespread poverty in Morocco”.
“Punishing peaceful criticism of those in power is a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression,” the human rights NGO said in a recent statement, calling for the charges against the activist to be dropped.
Also read: Morocco: Amnesty International denounces ‘restrictions’ on freedom of expression
In 2018, Rabie Al-Ablaq was jailed for his participation in the protest movement that rocked the Moroccan Rif (North) region in 2016-2017 and then sentenced to five years in prison before being pardoned by the king in 2020.
Another Moroccan human rights activist, Saïda El-Alami, 48, who regularly posted anti-authority posts on social media, was arrested on March 23 and faces criminal charges of “insulting officials in the performance of their duties”, “undermining the judiciary”. tracked. and “Dissemination of False Claims”. The verdict is expected on Friday.
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