Moroccan Authorities to Prosecute Activist Fouad Abdelmoumni Without Detention

Doha – The Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of First Instance in Casablanca announced on Friday its decision to prosecute activist Fouad Abdelmoumni without detaining him on charges of insulting constituted bodies and spreading false allegations, including “reporting a fictitious crime.”

Abdelmoumni, 66, a prominent economist and longtime human rights activist, will be summoned for a trial after the completion of his interrogation, according to a statement by the Deputy Public Prosecutor.

The Prosecutor’s Office emphasized that the accused benefited from all legal rights and guarantees during the investigation conducted by the Judicial Police.

The activist was arrested on Wednesday, October 30, a day after making controversial comments on Facebook during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Morocco.

In his post, Abdelmoumni alleged that Morocco had used Israeli-made Pegasus spyware against France in 2021, claims the kingdom has previously denied as “baseless and false.”

The Prosecutor’s Office stated that contrary to erroneous information circulated on social media, it supervised the investigation procedures under its responsibility.

It also affirmed its commitment to informing the public about matters of interest while respecting the presumption of innocence.

Abdelmoumni appeared before the Prosecutor’s Office on Friday morning after the completion of the investigation and all legal guarantees.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, he was interrogated in accordance with the laws in force regarding the dissemination of data and allegations deemed harmful to the interests of the kingdom and some of its institutions, exceeding the limits of freedom of expression.

Various civil society organizations have strongly condemned the arrest, calling it arbitrary and a violation of freedom of opinion and expression.

The Democratic Left Federation, of which Abdelmoumni is a member, expressed deep concern and demanded his immediate and unconditional release.

“Arresting Abdelmoumni for innocuous Facebook comments is merely a ploy for Morocco’s security czars,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN).

“Moroccan authorities have once again shown their contempt for the right of free expression by detaining one of the country’s best-known and respected members of civil society…” said Eric Goldstein, a human rights activist who formerly served as Human Rights Watch’s Deputy Director overseeing work in Morocco.

He further suggested that the activist was “apparently” arrested “for comments about current affairs that diverge from the official version.”

Transparency Morocco, an anti-corruption NGO previously headed by Abdelmoumni, stated that “denouncing arbitrary practices and systemic corruption is not a crime or an offense.”

The Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH) also expressed solidarity with the activist and victims of political detention.

Abdelmoumni, who was previously imprisoned and tortured during the repressive “Years of Lead” under King Hassan II, has been a prominent figure in defending human rights and supporting pro-democracy efforts in Morocco.

In 2022, Human Rights Watch reported that he had been targeted with intimidation tactics, including the distribution of a private video, likely shot from a hidden camera in his home.

The Prosecutor’s Office assured that it would monitor the progress of the case in accordance with the law, ensuring the conditions for a fair trial and upholding the principle of equality before the law.

The arrest and ensuing reactions have brought the issue of human rights and freedom of expression in Morocco back into focus.