Ali Lmrabet's Release and Ongoing Legal Challenges
Ali Lmrabet, a prominent Franco-Moroccan journalist, was released from custody on Wednesday after spending three days in detention in Morocco. His arrest stemmed from remarks made online that authorities deemed defamatory. Despite his release, the investigation into the allegations continues, as announced by the public prosecutor's office. Lmrabet, who is 66 years old and a well-known figure in independent Moroccan journalism, has a history of expressing critical views towards the government, which has made him a target for legal scrutiny.
Upon his release, Lmrabet was presented before the prosecutor's office, which ordered his freedom while confirming that the investigation into the alleged defamatory remarks would proceed. According to the ministry, this inquiry was initiated due to online posts that were said to contain defamatory and insulting statements directed at individuals and institutions, as well as actions perceived as contemptuous towards legally governed bodies.
The Background of Ali Lmrabet's Career and Legal Issues
Lmrabet was apprehended on Sunday evening upon his arrival at Tangier Airport in northern Morocco. His detention prompted calls for his release from various organizations, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). After learning of his release, Laura Feliu, Lmrabet's wife, expressed her surprise and happiness, while also indicating concerns about his ability to leave the country, given that he has resided in Barcelona and had not returned to Morocco for several years, particularly after the passing of his father.
Previously, Lmrabet had faced significant restrictions on his journalistic activities in Morocco, including a ten-year ban from practicing journalism between April 2005 and April 2015 due to a defamation conviction related to comments about Sahrawis in the Tindouf camps in southwestern Algeria. His statements contradicted the Moroccan government's position, which claims that the Front Polisario, backed by Algeria, is preventing these individuals from returning to Morocco. Lmrabet was also the editor of the now-defunct weekly publications Demain Magazine and Doumane, which were banned in 2003 following a trial for "outrage to the king." He served a three-year prison sentence but was released in early 2004 thanks to a royal pardon.
As reported by leparisien.fr.
