Three journalists in Morocco who were imprisoned for reporting on corruption and abuse of power have been released after receiving pardons from King Mohammed VI. The journalists, who were among 2,278 individuals granted pardons this week, were Omar Radi, Taoufik Bouachrine, and Soulaimane Raissouni.
The pardons were announced in conjunction with Morocco's national holiday celebrating the 25th anniversary of King Mohammed VI's reign. While the journalists' prison sentences have been lifted, the civil penalties and monetary obligations imposed by the courts remain in effect.
The journalists were released in Tiflet, a town east of Rabat, to a jubilant crowd of supporters. Human rights activists welcomed the pardons but emphasized that they do not absolve the Moroccan authorities of the perceived politically motivated nature of the journalists' prosecution.
Despite Morocco's reputation as a stable ally in counterterrorism efforts and a popular tourist destination, the cases of these journalists drew international criticism from entities such as the U.S. State Department, the European Parliament, and various press freedom organizations.
The journalists were convicted of sex-related offenses that they vehemently denied, with human rights groups alleging that the charges were weaponized to silence dissent. The cases were part of a broader pattern of crackdowns on critics of the Moroccan government.
Amnesty International and Forbidden Stories published leaked documents suggesting that the journalists were targets of surveillance by Moroccan officials using smartphone malware, an allegation that authorities denied.
Bouachrine, an editor of an independent newspaper, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2018 on charges including human trafficking and sexual assault. Raissouni, another former editor, received a five-year sentence in 2021 for sexual assault. Radi, an investigative reporter, was sentenced to six years in 2021 on charges of espionage and sexual assault.
Other individuals granted pardons include YouTuber Reda Taoujni, activist Youssef El Hirech, and Saida Alami.
