The European Parliament adopted by 356 votes to 32, with 42 abstentions, a resolution on the situation of journalists in Morocco, notably the case of Omar Radi.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, ECR, The Left groups and Members.
Independent investigative journalist Omar Radi, who covered Hirak protests and state corruption scandals, has been detained since July 2020 and sentenced to six years in prison on trumped-up charges of espionage, as well as on rape charges in July 2021. His sentence was upheld on appeal in March 2022. Numerous due process guarantees were violated, rendering the trial inherently unfair and biased.
Parliament urges the Moroccan authorities to respect freedom of expression and media freedom, guarantee imprisoned journalists, in particular Omar Radi, Soulaimane Raissouni and Taoufik Bouachrine, a fair trial with all due process guarantees, secure their immediate provisional release and cease the harassment of all journalists, their lawyers and families. The authorities are urged to fulfil their international human rights obligations in line with the EU-Morocco Association Agreement.
Parliament is deeply concerned about allegations that the Moroccan authorities have corrupted Members of the European Parliament and calls for the application of the same measures as applied to representatives of Qatar. Parliament reiterates its commitment to fully investigate and address cases of corruption involving non-EU countries seeking to buy influence in the European Parliament.
The resolution also condemns the misuse of allegations of sexual assault to deter journalists from performing their duties, a practice that endangers womens’ rights.
Parliament calls for:
- the release of all political prisoners;
- the immediate and unconditional release of 2018 Sakharov Prize finalist Nasser Zefzafi;
- an end to the surveillance of journalists, including via NSO’s Pegasus spyware, and to enact and implement legislation to protect them.
Member States are urged to stop exporting surveillance technology to Morocco.
The EU and its Member States are called on to continue raising with the Moroccan authorities the cases of detained journalists and prisoners of conscience and attend their trials.