King Mohamed VI of Morocco pardons and frees three imprisoned journalists

In Rabat, Morocco, King Mohammed VI issued a pardon on Monday for three journalists who had been charged with sex crimes and espionage in cases criticized by press freedom advocates. The journalists, Omar Radi, Taoufik Bouachrine, and Soulaimane Raissouni, were among 2,278 individuals granted pardons by Morocco’s Ministry of Justice. The pardons coincided with Throne Day, which commemorates the king’s ascent to the throne.

The journalists had been emblematic of Morocco’s efforts to suppress criticism from media and human rights activists for over four years. They were noted for their critical reporting on the government and its policies. Bouachrine, a former editor of the independent paper Akhbar al-Youm, was sentenced to 12 years in 2018 for offenses including human trafficking and sexual assault. Raissouni, also a former editor of the same paper, received a five-year sentence in 2021 on charges of sexual assault. Radi, an investigative reporter and activist, was sentenced to six years in 2021 on charges of espionage and sexual assault.

Various organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Reporters Without Borders, strongly criticized the prosecutions as politically motivated. The use of sex crime charges to penalize journalists was condemned by the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Middle East and North Africa program.

The cases gained international attention when leaked documents indicated that Moroccan officials had spied on the journalists using malware on their smartphones. Authorities denied these allegations. The journalists’ release was welcomed by their supporters, though concerns were raised about the fairness of their imprisonment. Human rights activist Fouad Abdelmoumni expressed hope for the release of others and the advancement of democracy in Morocco.