Known for his editorial criticism of the authorities, he was sentenced at first instance to five years in prison for “sexual assault”.
The appeal trial of Moroccan journalist Soulaimane Raissouni, sentenced at first instance to five years in prison for “sexual assault”, opened on Wednesday, October 13 in Casablanca, with his support committee and the Reporters Without Borders organization calling for his release. .
In early July, Soulaimane Raissouni, 49, known for his editorials critical of the Moroccan authorities, was sentenced to five years in prison for “sexual assault” after a complaint from an LGBT + activist. Facts that he disputes, assuring that he is being prosecuted “because of his opinions”.
The trial opened, but the court decided to postpone it to October 27 “to give lawyers time to prepare the defense,” his lawyer, Lahsen Dadsi, told AFP. The defense also filed a new request for provisional release of journalists arrested in May 2020, added Me Dadsi.
Its support committee in Morocco, made up of several human rights defenders, denounced a trial “of a political and vengeful nature” and reiterated its call to “release him”, as well as personalities and Moroccan political parties.
122 days of hunger strike
In a statement released Tuesday, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) association hopes that this trial will “compensate for the many procedural irregularities that have been observed so far” and will be “fair and equitable”. “Soulaimane Raissouni’s place is not in prison,” added the director of RSF’s North Africa office, Souhaieb Khayati.
The journalist had been on hunger strike for 122 days to protest his detention, which prevented him from attending most of his trial hearings at first instance. After numerous calls from his supporters in Morocco and abroad, he ended this strike in early August and “is recovering his health,” said his lawyer. The Moroccan authorities, say that Mr. Raissouni benefited from a “fair” trial and that the prosecutions “have nothing to do with his journalistic work”.
Two other Moroccan journalists, Omar Radi and Taoufik Bouachrine were sentenced to heavy prison terms for sexual assaults which they deny. Mr. Radi is also charged with “espionage”. Morocco was ranked 136th out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index of RSF.
