Moroccan journalist Soulaimane Raissouni, sentenced to five years in prison for “sexual assault”, proclaimed his innocence during his first appearance, Monday January 10, before the Casablanca Court of Appeal. Known for his editorial criticism of the authorities, Mr. Raissouni, 49, is accused of “sexual assault” by a young LGBTQ activist. Facts that he disputes, assuring that he is being prosecuted “Because of his opinions”. Arrested in May 2020, the former editor-in-chief ofAkhbar Al Yaoum, a newspaper in bankruptcy since last March, boycotted his trial at first instance, from February to July 2021.
On Monday, before the court of appeal, he categorically denied having had “Any relation” with the complainant, a sexual minority rights activist, and have him “Harassed, kidnapped and assaulted”, according to an AFP journalist present at the hearing. The judge questioned him in particular on a Facebook post in which the complainant accuses him, under a pseudonym, of having raped him at his home, as well as on conversations which would prove that he “Harassed” his accuser. “I have nothing to do with these documents”, replied Mr. Raissouni, who tried to convince the court to“Inconsistencies” and of “Contradictions” in the complainant’s statements. The judge decided to continue his questioning on January 17.
Hunger-strike
Incarcerated since May 22, 2020, the journalist appeared to be in good health after going on a hunger strike last summer to protest his arrest, which had prevented him from attending most of his hearings. trial. He ended up suspending his hunger strike after 122 days following calls from his defenders in Morocco and abroad, before being briefly hospitalized. The justice rejected all his requests for release.
Its support committee for Morocco denounced a trial “Political and vengeful”. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called for a trial ” fair “. The Moroccan authorities claim that Mr. Raissouni has benefited from a trial ” fair “ and that the prosecutions “Have nothing to do with his journalistic work”. During the trial, the complainant pleaded for his “Right to justice”, denying any instrumentalisation aimed at targeting the journalist.
Two other Moroccan journalists, Omar Radi and Taoufik Bouachrine, were sentenced to heavy prison terms for sexual assaults which they deny. Mr. Radi is also charged with” spying “. Morocco occupies the 136e place out of 180 countries in RSF’s world press freedom rankings.
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