( 3 Minutes Read)
Prosecutors arrested Fouad Abdelmoumni in Casablanca recently and announced that he was being investigated on suspicion of spreading false information and accusing others of crimes on social media, Morocco’s state news agency reported.
A Moroccan economist known for his human rights work has been detained after criticizing the government in remarks posted on social media during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to the North African kingdom.
Prosecutors arrested Fouad Abdelmoumni in Casablanca recently and announced that he was being investigated on suspicion of spreading false information and accusing others of crimes on social media, Morocco’s state news agency reported. If charged and convicted, he faces up to five years in prison under cybercrime laws. Abdelmoumni, a former political prisoner, is the coordinator of the association.
As Macron visited Rabat with Moroccan leaders including King Mohammed VI, the activist claimed in a post that Morocco was trying to “blackmail” France using methods such as spying and refusing to cooperate in managing illegal immigration.
Abdelmoumni has not yet been formally charged. When he appears in court on Friday, he will likely be charged with crimes related to the article, said one of his lawyers, Souad Brahma. In Morocco, authorities can detain people under investigation for 48 hours without charging them.
Amnesty International and the Paris-based nonprofit group Forbidden Stories published a report alleging that Moroccan authorities used Israeli software Pegagus to infiltrate the electronic devices of human rights activists, including Mr. Abdelmoumni, and politicians, including Mr. Macron. Morocco has vigorously denied the allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit.
Read Also:
https://trendsnafrica.com/morocco-signs-military-agreements-with-czech-republic-azerbaijan/
Macron’s political party helped push through a resolution in 2023 condemning human rights abuses in Morocco in the European Parliament. However, the two countries have recently strengthened their political and economic ties. This week, they announced economic deals and lucrative contracts on projects ranging from transport to desalination infrastructure. Mr Macron also reiterated his support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
