Recently, a Moroccan economist and human rights defender, Fouad Abdelmoumni, was arrested. He only spoke against the French government on social media during the Macron tour to Morroco. In Casablanca, he faced many allegations of spreading false information about the government. It was also claimed that this person was making incorrect accusations against others. Now he may get severe punishment and could be sentenced to prison for at least 5 years.
His arrest highlights the complicated trend of harassment, especially against those who took steps for human rights and raised their voices. According to the Moroccan Association in Support of Political Prisoners, this campaign is being led by the government to silence the voices of opponents. The arrest case of Abdelmoumni expressed the dangers faced by activists in Morocco. It raises many questions about the free speech rights of the people and the treatment of political dissenters in the country.
The President of France, Macron also met with many leaders during his visit to Morocco. He also had a conversation with King Mohammed VI. According to Activist Abdelmoumni, Morocco was making efforts to blackmail France through spying and by not assisting with illegal immigration. He faced different types of charges due to his social media posts when he went to court. In Morocco, there is a rule that authorities can hold the criminal for up to 48 hours without charging them. The lawyer of the activists, Souad Brahma, criticizes his arrest and said that this action of authorities violated his freedom of speech.
She also claimed that officials did not allow her to meet him, even though she had a permission letter from the court. Officials have not responded to claims that the arrest was politically motivated. Furthermore, during the whole visit, Macron discussed improving the relationship between France and Morocco. For many years, both nations have been struggling with many complications. However this situation raises worries about freedom of speech in Morocco.
The tension between Morocco and human rights activists arose in 2021. The “Pegasus Affair” highlighted these complexities. Many reports claim that Morocco misused the Pegasus software to conduct surveillance on activists and even politicians such as Abdelmoumni and Macron. Morocco refused to accept these allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit. A 66-year-old human rights defender has faced many complexities such as imprisonment and torture under the leadership of King Hassan II.
Pro-democracy uprisings such as the Arab Spring and Morocco’s 2017 “Hirak” protests have had his ardent support. According to a 2022 Human Rights Watch investigation, Abdelmoumni was intimidated by a leaked intimate film that was probably secretly recorded. Non-marital relationships are prohibited in Morocco, and therefore this revelation was interpreted as an attempt to damage his character. The government’s purported actions against him are part of larger initiatives to stifle dissenting opinions.
Macron’s trip to Morocco this week brought to light the difficult balancing act between human rights concerns and diplomacy. He attended a judicial trial of Morocco’s former human rights minister and took part in a vigil for a Moroccan activist who vanished in France in 1965. France and Morocco have improved their political and commercial relations, even though Macron’s party backed a resolution in the European Parliament in 2023 denouncing Morocco’s violations of human rights. Macron reiterated his support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in the new accords, which encompass desalination and transportation projects.
During his three-day visit, Macron made statements in the Moroccan parliament, at a business event, and to the French community, but notably, he avoided discussing Morocco’s human rights record. This strategy calls into question France’s priorities because it prioritizes strategic assistance and economic cooperation over direct discussions concerning Morocco’s human rights policies.
