Media, rights groups condemn Moroccan blogger trial
2008-09-10
Blogger Mohammed Erraji was sentenced to two years in jail for criticising the King of Morocco. Bloggers and human rights groups described the ruling as "unacceptable".
Naoufel Cherkaoui and Sarah Touahri in Rabat contributed to this report– 10/09/08
 [helperraji.com] The arrest and sentencing of Moroccan blogger Mohammed Erraji has caused indignation among press freedom and human rights groups. |
The arrest and expedited trial of Moroccan blogger and journalist Mohammed Erraji has been widely condemned by media and human rights groups in the country.
Less than three days after he was arrested, an Agadir court sentenced Erraji Monday (September 8th) to two years in prison and a 5,000-dirham fine for writing an article deemed disrespectful of the King.
The arrest and sentencing is the first ever of a blogger in Morocco.
Writing in the electronic journal Hespress, 32-year old Erraji attributed the "shameful ranking [Morocco] has on the world level" to a phenomenon he calls "transport permits", whereby the King accords special benefits to some citizens.
"He can't just give them out to whoever throws a phrase of praise into his ear. First of all, this contributes to the creation of armies of flatterers who, instead of seeking to win their living via hard work, win it by words of flattery and praise..."
"In this way, the King is encouraging the people to be dependent," Erraji wrote in his article, which was published last Thursday, one day before his arrest.
In the courtroom on Monday morning, Erraji's trial went forward without a defense lawyer, and reportedly lasted only ten minutes.
Erraji's story was everywhere in the Moroccan blogosphere over the weekend, but nearly absent from Moroccan print media until Wednesday, when Al Ahdath Al Maghribia questioned the fairness of a trial without a defence laywer.
"The judge must ask the accused if he wishes to adjourn the trial to seek the services of a lawyer," the paper wrote. "If the judge continues beyond that point, he will have infringed upon his prerogatives and altered a fundamental right."
The Moroccan National Press Union went further, denouncing the trial as having been "expeditious, the sole aim being to legitimise a de facto abduction".
Vice-chairman of the Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH), Abdelhamid Amine, told Magharebia: "AMDH feels that this is an unacceptable ruling, because once more press freedom and freedom of opinion are being put on trial…No free man can accept the way in which the trial was conducted."
Abdelmalek Houzi, a member of AMDH, said, "I can't hide my anger over the repeated practices of prevention and arrests because of opinion and expression…All these are part of the red lines that have spread everywhere and on the tongues of Moroccans."
Bloggers rallied to Erraji's side, garnering international attention and establishing a special website to support the jailed blogger.
Citizen Hmida asked, "Is it justified to challenge a delicate balance between freedom of speech and the desire of certain institutions to defend the monarchy that nobody questions?"
Blogger Ibn Kafka wrote: "It should be noted, however, that Mohammed Erraji has benefited from the legendary leniency of Moroccan justice, and has since been sentenced to two years' imprisonment, whereas the minimum incurred for this offense is three years, maximum five years. This means that in theory (in practice, judges practice what they preach), extenuating circumstances were taken into account - but which ones?"
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lahoucain_212 Posted 2008-09-11
Solidarity with the arrested blogger Mohamed Erraji. This sign which is still alive in the democratic Morocco... Persecution of free and fair pens... Release Mohamed Erraji. He is one of the faithful sons to his nation and king.
John Blackwell Posted 2008-09-11
Looks like everyone is too scared to comment.
Ego Posted 2008-09-11
Thank the judges for their “magnanimity”!? Yes, indeed!? They ONLY sentenced Mohamed Erraji to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of 5000 dirhams when he was supposed to get three to five years for making a declaration that elsewhere would have either been seen as being positive for the country or, if not, gone unnoticed! Well, there you have it: in the kingdom of His Majesty, the Emir, and his believers and so on and so on, even the vice president of the ‘human rights’ organisation, quite put off, said that he did not accept not this outdated trial. Please note, that they did not convict... Kabs! My friend, I see you are embarrassed by what you and your compatriots call “your freedom of expression and your young, modern, modernist and such and such Majesty’s tolerance. Do not be: the Arab world—the entire Arab world—is a world of clowns, a world that remains to be redone.
Gares Posted 2008-09-11
I am sure that the first person to be laughing at the stupidity of these judges, peeing his pants, is his majesty the king himself.
Jamaldine Posted 2008-09-11
I am against the arbitrary. I fight tooth and nail against injustice in our country. I was imprisoned and I have seen oppression myself. I saw people tearing each other apart to avoid Pressa. I lived through and suffered the abuse of police, caïds, judges, customs officers and so on. But, let me tell you, my dear compatriots, that I regard our current king as being great. He is a very nice human being with a heart of gold. While the democracies go bombing women and children, creating Guantánamo and Abu Ghraib, here the former political detainees have honest wages. Our king made me when I saw him deal with Juan Carlos during his visit to Ceuta and Melilla. Colonialism is over with and he made no hesitation about skipping a few summits! On the Internet, he shares photographs of his charming, marvellous wife and little children, who proudly has the name of Lalla Khadija! I indeed ask this journalist for one source of evidence for what he is advancing! His majesty is not so cheap as this; he is a man of class who runs directly against the fraudulent. As he said, “I would like to hold myself accountable for my actions.” He drives his car by himself and he tries to be the prince of the poor, but we just go on exaggerating! He cannot solve every letter written to him wherever he goes! I ask that we respect Mohamed VI? Where was this beautiful language when Hassan II was alive? I met Tahar Benjellon here in Montreal and I almost told him, “Why didn’t you write ‘Vivre à Tazmamart’ when Hassan II was alive?” They always throw sand in our neighbours eyes, but never in our own. Stop pretending you are perfect! Allah knows what we hide in our hearts. —Jamaldine, proud of his king. (The first one to offer me proof otherwise: on my mother, I swear will denounce him, period.
Jamal Morelli Posted 2008-09-12
I suppose what an observer from outside Morocco is wondering may be this: What kind of education does a Moroccan judge actually need to get these jobs? Possible interview: "Islamic jurisprudence?" "Full marks." "International law?" "Yes." "Looks good. A final question: How about complete suspension of rational thought and human sympathy?" Living in terror of arrest will shut down all sorts of ideas, ideas that could possibly lead the country to greatness. No wonder people are drowning en masse in make shift rafts to get out of here. Please, to those who can make this decision: for the love of Allah, His mercy and justice - show this young man out of prison this Ramadan. (And may Allah always guide the thoughts of our country's leader.)
hicham Posted 2008-09-12
Salam and Happy Ramadan, To me, one thing is clear: we are not in Europe here and we do not have the West’s culture. We are Moroccans and that means we are Muslims. We have our own culture and our own religion and, consequently, we must respect certain rules and possess the obligatory respect for the head of a nation, be he king, president or emir. To me, people who, in the name of the freedom of expression, insult others, criticise the king and talk about subject that can sow despair in a country that is on the road to democracy. In the name of the freedom of expression, they say Morocco is occupying the Sahara. This comes in the name of the freedom of expression of the so-call “Amazigh” people and self-determination of the Rif. No, we need all the same to be logical and try to weigh up to the West. On the contrary, we need to measure our deeds and words and gestures against the rules of our own culture and our own religion. I am in favour of the freedom of expression but I am against the Western model of democracy and freedom because we are not the West. And, as for me, a Persian, it does not interest me at all if the UN ranks Morocco first or last in the world because, to me, only God’s judgment is important. I have not forgotten that in the Qu’ran it is well cited that both the Christians and the Jews will respect us only so long as we follow their false religions. To me, that is a fundamental rule.
jamaldine Posted 2008-09-12
Bravo to the moderators!! My comment was not published... long live the freedom of expression at Magharebia!
jamaldine Posted 2008-09-15
First of all, my thanks go to Magharebia for its neutrality in allowing us to publish comments; this is how we are able to measure the transparency of newspapers and magazines. I completely agree with Hicham’s comments. Yes, indeed, they go on saying whatever they want about Morocco’s occupation of Sahara, the self-determination of the Amazigh and Rif peoples. These are not Moroccan nationals. We make so many sacrifices and go through so much suffering to make out country a unified state and yet others want to move the Berlin and Jerusalem walls over here. I am sorry, but we are not the Americans, and, even in America, they will listen to what you are saying or writing. Please, go hound Lakhdar, Abdullah Salih, Mubarek or any of our neighbouring Algerian generals. Instead of making your foolish accusations against the King, wake your memory back up and demonstrate your abilities when it comes to Ceuta, Melilla, the Jaafarine Islands, Vélez and Hoceima and all their other edges of our territory, the waves of which come so close to Morocco. I know that in Morocco there are some judges and policemen who act the same way they did back in the 1970s just to please the hierarchy. Let us act together in order to help this little world wake up too! I do not agree at all with the severity of the sentencing of this blogger: it is exaggerated and absurd. May our King—God grant him a long life—have pity for this lost person. Ameen my god.
بيداح انزكان اكاديرbaidah inzegan agadir Posted 2008-09-15
A plea to his majesty the king Mohamed VI regarding the charge filed against the journalist Mohamed Erraji who said that "the accusations against me are fabrications and false. First of all, I am a Moroccan citizen. I love so much my country, my nation and my king so how can I disrespect his majesty the king. I never meant that. I just tackled, like other Moroccans, the social and economic conditions which are a source of anxiety to all of us. I tackled it in a criticizing way in order to contribute building democracy in our country and establishing freedom of the opinion and expression." At the end of his statement, he thanked national, international and regional media and reporters written, radio and TV media, civil society and professional organizations, different sides and the bar of lawyers which assisted and supported him in his case and in getting the provisional release waiting to be acquitted by the Appeal court. He called upon officials, at the end of his statement, to grant Moroccan journalism more freedom to express its opinions as it is the only way for the progress of our country and to establish democratic pillars. The trial will be held tomorrow morning 15/09/2008. We hope that it will be fair because Erraji isn’t guilty of any insult against his majesty the king. Therefore, we ask the court not to order any prison sentence against him. As regards defence and representation, the file now before the court of Appeal in Agadir received many offers of presentation by the bar of lawyers in Agadir and the bar of lawyers in Kenitra to assist the defendant. We were informed that representation was attributed to Abdelatif Ouamou, former president of the Bar, Yahya Boudraoui, Abbas Mesbah and Lahoucine Boufim from the Bar of Agadir; former president of the Bar Abderahim Jamii, Bar of Kenitra. Other offers of representation will be received in the case according to the confirmations of some human rights activists.
Kabs Posted 2008-09-15
Ego; I am happy to see that I have become popular. I believe that Jamaldine gave you quite a good response. (Thank you, my friend.) Know too that the blogger was released: “The Court of Appeals in Agadir, Morocco and granted bail for procedural errors in the trial of Mohammed Erraji who has been detained since 8 September for having written an article criticising Mohamed VI.” Little mistakes like this are not going to change Morocco’s lot. Long live the King! Long live Mohamed VI!
Ego Posted 2008-09-17
Okay Kabs! If your happiness comes only at this price, then long live your king! But, in any case, poor Mohammed Erraji is still threatened by the forked tongue of the legal system, which is not a legal system at all. He seems quite put off that he is thinking of stopping writing or, in other words, committing suicide, professionally speaking. My opinion, the opinion of a simple Maghrebi, is that if your king is truly — as certain Moroccan citizens say — positive, then he should not only lift the threat off of this journalist, who was not negative for his own part in his article, but he should also compensate him and honour him for his patriotism, something that does not consist solely in kissing the king’s hand. Oh! I know! I already hear it coming! I know that his is not my business, but destroying a young person like that does not leave me indifferent.
jawad Posted 2008-12-03
The day will surely come when all Moroccans will know freedom and equality, but this is will require a lot of courage and sacrifice. Just as the human rights activists and free Moroccans have given from the time of our independence up until now.
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