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Moroccan historian Maati Monjib, 61, was released on bail on March 23 after nearly three months of detention in El Arjat prison near Rabat. A freedom of expression activist, he was sentenced in January to one year in prison for “endangering state security” and “fraud”. The national and international mobilization around the hunger strike he led probably weighed on the authorities’ decision to release him. In turn, he is worried about the fate of journalists and intellectuals still in detention, in particular Omar Radi and Soulaiman Raissouni, who began a hunger strike a week ago. In an interview with World Africa, Mr. Monjib denounces the “Regression” of the Moroccan regime.
How did your three months in detention go?
The first two weeks there were restrictions, especially for outside contact. I couldn’t speak to my family. But after two weeks, my conditions improved significantly. I was treated normally. I mostly suffered from isolation. I had a neighborhood all to myself. For a month, the neighboring block was even emptied of its inmates, while there was a problem of overcrowding in this prison. This isolation was very painful. Otherwise, I didn’t really have a complaint. I had a good relationship with the guard. I also had a small yard at my disposal to do two hours of daily walking. It was not used by any other prisoner. The authorities were afraid that I would release information about my case, to defend myself in court through the media.
Why did they decide to give you this provisional release?
Because my case was in the media. There are two currents within the regime: a security current, launched in a repressive headlong rush, and a political current, more sensitive to pressure from civil society, human rights organizations and diplomatic pressures. I think that this political current wanted to end my affair, realizing that my file was empty. He realized the harm that this caused to the image of Morocco.
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