Nearly 300 rights advocates are petitioning Morocco to free activist Fouad Abdelmoumni, sentenced to six months for allegedly spreading false information about Moroccan espionage against France. The petition criticizes his penal trial instead of a more appropriate press code trial, characterizing his sentence as part of a repressive regional policy. Prominent figures support the call for his release and the release of other political prisoners.
Tunis-based rights advocates and experts from North Africa and France have initiated a petition urging Morocco to release activist Fouad Abdelmoumni. He was sentenced to six months in prison for allegedly “spreading false allegations” online. This sentence arises from a Facebook post where Abdelmoumni claimed that Morocco had engaged in espionage against France.
The petition has garnered nearly 300 signatures, highlighting that Abdelmoumni should have been tried under the press code, which does not include prison sentences. Instead, he faced charges under the penal code, a decision criticized by the signatories who believe it reflects a broader trend of suppressing dissent in the region.
Signatories have called for the nullification of Abdelmoumni’s sentence and the release of all political prisoners in Morocco and surrounding Maghreb countries. Noteworthy supporters include former Doctors Without Borders president Rony Brauman and French-Tunisian historian Sophie Bessis.
Abdelmoumni’s original post, made during a visit from French President Macron, echoed existing claims regarding Moroccan espionage against France. Prosecutors asserted his remarks were damaging to national interests and exceeded free expression limits, constituting criminal behavior.
This incident follows previous accusations that Morocco has utilized Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to surveil high-profile figures, including President Macron. Reports by investigative organizations such as Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International support this claim, which Morocco rejected as unfounded.
The petition against Fouad Abdelmoumni’s imprisonment underscores concerns regarding freedom of expression and human rights in Morocco. With nearly 300 signatories advocating for his release, this case illustrates a pattern of governmental repression against dissenting voices in the region. The call for annulment of his sentence and liberation of other political prisoners resonates with ongoing challenges to democracy and human rights across North Africa.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
