Morocco: PEN International welcomes the release of journalists Omar Radi, Soulaiman Raissouni and Taoufik Bouachrine

Photos: Omar Radi (left) courtesy of his family, Soulaiman Raissouni (right) courtesy of his family

‘We are thrilled to see Moroccan journalists Omar Radi, Soulaiman Raissouni and Taoufik Bouachrine among their families and friends after years of arbitrary imprisonment. They should have never been imprisoned or faced trumped-up charges in retaliation for their journalistic work. Safeguarding freedom of expression and press freedom is essential to ensure a healthy and vibrant society,’ said Burhan Sonmez, President of PEN International.

31 July 2024: PEN International welcomes the release of prominent Moroccan journalists Omar Radi, Soulaiman Raissouni and Taoufik Bouachrine after receiving royal pardons from King Mohamed VI. While celebrating their well-deserved and long-awaited freedom, PEN International stresses that they should never been imprisoned and continues to call for an end to the Moroccan authorities’ crackdown on freedom of expression and press freedom.

On 29 July 2024, Moroccan authorities announced that King Mohamed IV had issued royal pardons for more than two thousand prisoners ahead of the 25th anniversary of King Mohammed VI ascension to the throne. The pardons included commuting sentences, lifting fines and other non-custodial measures. Radi, Raissouni, and Bouachrine are among the activists and journalists who benefited from the royal pardons.

PEN International has been actively campaigning for the release of Omar Radi, Soulaiman Raissouni, including calls for their sentences to be quashed. PEN International has also featured Raissouni’s case during the 2023 Day of the Imprisoned Writer campaign, calling for his release and the return of his confiscated work while in prison. Speaking to PEN International following his release, Omar Radi expressed his happiness to be among his family members and beloved ones; however, he told PEN International that he cannot be joyful as many remain behind bars for their expression, including prominent human rights lawyer Mohammed Ziane and Hirak al Rif activists.

Background

Journalists Soulaiman Raissouni and Omar Radi were arrested in May and July 2020, respectively, and subjected to prolonged pre-trial detention before facing trials that failed to meet international fair trial standards. PEN International has previously called for their release and advocated for their right to a fair trial, highlighting concerns over Morocco’s use of spurious and defamatory criminal charges relating to allegations of sexual and gender-based violence as a pretext to suppress freedom of expression and intimidate journalists.

Similarly, Taoufik Bouachrine was arrested in February 2018 on bogus charges, including human trafficking, sexual assault, rape, prostitution, and harassment. He was initially sentenced to 12 years’ impriosonment in November 2018, but this sentence was extended to to 15 years in prison following an appeal submitted by the public prosecutor to the Casablanca Court of Appeal in 2019.

The persecution of these journalists is a clear indication of the declining situation of press freedom in Morocco and has been widely criticised by international institutions. In July 2022, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that the arrest and detention of Raissouni was arbitrary, raising grave concerns over his physical and psychological well-being. In January 2023, the European Parlament adopted resolution 2023/2506(RSP), urging the Moroccan authorities to ‘respect freedom of expression and media freedom, guarantee imprisoned journalists, in particular, Omar Radi, Soulaimane Raissouni and Taoufik Bouachrine, a fair trial with all due process guarantees, secure their provisional release and cease the harassment of all journalists, their lawyers and families’.

Since their arrest and detention, PEN International documented the testimonies of both Radi and Raissouni’s families, indicating their inhumane and degrading treatment in prison, including the confiscation of their writings, lack of adequate medical care and poor detention conditions, including subjecting them to prolonged periods of isolation.

Full background on Soulaimne Raissoini’s case can be found here.

Full background on Omar Radi’s case can be found here.

For more information, please contact Mina Thabet, Head of the MENA Region, email: Mina.Thabet@pen-international.org