Paris, September 19, 2015 (SPS) The non-governmental organization, Reporters Without Borders, released Thursday a report on press freedom in the Kingdom of Morocco entitled: "the Kingdom of the red lines, the independent Moroccan press suppressed," on the occasion of the visit of President Francois Hollande in Morocco on September 19-20.
The report addressed the arrest of young Sahrawi blogger and journalist for the RASD-TV Channel Mahmoud Haissan after filming peaceful demonstrations organized by civilians in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, demanding the right of the Saharawi people for freedom and independence, which were violently dispersed by forces of the Moroccan occupier.
The NGO affirmed that the Saharawi journalist is still being pursued by the Moroccan court for "armed gathering", "obstruction of public roads", "aggression against officials during performance of their duties" and "damaging public property".
The French Organization expressed concern on the current situation of freedom of information in Morocco and occupied Western Sahara, saying that journalists still face the same red lines such as the so-called Morocco's territorial integrity in reference to the question of Western Sahara and the monarchy.
The report recalled the abuses against Moroccan journalists including Ali Lmrabet, Ali Anouzla, Hamid El Mehdaoui, Niny Rachid and Ahmed Najim. (SPS)
062/090/TRA