MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Situation of Journalist in Morocco, notably the case of Omar Radi

17.1.2023 - (2023/2506(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Miguel Urbán Crespo
on behalf of The Left Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0057/2023

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B9‑0057/2023

European Parliament resolution on Situation of Journalist in Morocco, notably the case of Omar Radi

 

(2023/2506(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

 

 

1. whereas Morocco continues to crack down on everybody critical with the regime, using harassment, smear campaigns, digital surveillance, torture and endless legal proceedings (as is the case of Maati Monjib and Ali Anouzla), have convicted dozens of journalists after unfair trials and for politically motivated offenses such as Toufik Bouachrine, Soulaiman Raissouni, Rabie El Ablak  and have closed and fined media outlets; whereas the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that Toufik Bouachrine and Soulmaiman Raissouni were arbitrarily detained;

 

2. whereas Omar Radi´s sentence to six years for "rape" and "espionage," was upheld on March 2022; whereas his trial violated multiple international standards; whereas Radi was previously subjected to smear campaigns, arbitrarily detention, physical attack and  his smartphone was targeted with Pegasus spyware;

 

 

1. Deplores Morocco’s crackdown on fundamental rights notably on journalists, media and everybody critical with the regime; exhorts to end all harassment, to ensure fair trials and to amend the laws limiting freedom of expression and political freedoms;
2. Calls for Radi´s provisional release pending re-trial and in the meantime, demands that the intimidation in prison ceases and that all their rights are respected;
3. Urges for the immediate and unconditional release of all journalists and activists arbitrarily detained; condemns the widespread campaigns of defamations, consisting in accusing dissidents of sexual violence, through medias connected to the regime, to the detriment of feminist struggles, while abortion is still illegal and has been used to target female dissidents;
4. Reminds EP obligation with Nasser Zefzafi, 2018 Sakharov Prize finalist, and calls for his release as well as of the other 9 Riffs political prisoners still in prison;
5. Condemns the human rights (HR) violations committed in Western Sahara in particular against activists and journalists supporting Sahrawi self-determination; urges the EU to support the self-determination and decolonization efforts of Sahrawi people;
6. Deplores that the EU and its MS have historically ignored  the HR violations committed by Morocco and condemns that during his recent visit the HR/VP refrained from denouncing it; reiterates that HR should not be undermined by migration management, commercial interests or counter-terrorism actions;
7. Denounces Morocco’s alleged attempts to influence the European Parliament and calls for the access badges of representatives of Morocco interests to be suspended;
8. Denounces that HR violations in both occupied Western Sahara and Morocco contravene the HR clause of the EU-Morocco Association Agreement, and therefore calls for its suspension;
9. Calls for clear benchmarks that make cooperation with Morocco conditional on progress in HR, and to demand in all meetings the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners;
10. Strongly condemns the use by Morocco of surveillance technology against Moroccan, French, and Spanish journalists among others Hicham Mansouri, Taoufik Bouachrine, Ali Amar, Souleiman Raissouni, and Ignacio Cembrero; calls to halt sales, exports, and transfers of all surveillance technologies to Morocco;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and Moroccan Government.