Three journalists imprisoned for exposing corruption and abuse of power in Morocco were released Monday after receiving pardons from King Mohammed VI. Omar Radi, Taoufik Bouachrine, and Soulaimane Raissouni were among 2,278 people pardoned this week, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the king’s ascension to the throne, according to the Ministry of Justice.
The journalists, freed from a prison in Tifelt, east of Rabat, were met by jubilant supporters. Human rights activists welcomed the pardons but noted that they did not address the politically charged nature of the prosecutions.
“Congratulations. Awaiting the others — and democracy,” wrote activist Fouad Abdelmoumni on Facebook, highlighting that other dissidents remain incarcerated.
The journalists’ convictions for sex-related crimes, which they have consistently denied as politically motivated, drew international condemnation from entities including the U.S. State Department, the European Parliament, and various press freedom organizations.
Bouachrine, an opinion columnist and editor of the independent newspaper Akhbar al-Youm, was sentenced to 12 years in 2018 for human trafficking, sexual assault, and rape. Raissouni, a former editor of the same newspaper, received a five-year sentence in 2021 for sexual assault. Radi, an investigative journalist and activist, was sentenced to six years in 2021 for espionage and sexual assault.
The pardons come amid criticism that Moroccan authorities have used serious criminal charges to silence dissent. Reports by Human Rights Watch and other organizations suggest that critics of the regime have been targeted with espionage and defamation tactics, including the use of malware.
Other pardoned individuals include YouTuber Reda Taoujni and activists Youssef El Hirech and Saida Alami.
