Recently, our colleague Ahmed Al-Shari and his media group have faced significant media and political attacks, notably from Abdelilah Benkirane and some of his associates. This assault has crossed the line of legitimate differences in opinion, veering into attempts to defame and undermine the rights of others to express themselves and make choices freely.
At "Voice of Justice," we firmly believe that freedom of expression is not a privilege granted by a political leader to those who agree with him, nor is it a benefit that can be revoked from those who dissent. Rather, it is an inherent constitutional right that should be enjoyed by all individuals without discrimination or oversight.
Ahmed Al-Shari, as a son of Marrakech and an influential media figure, has every right to support the candidacy of Fatima Zahra Mansouri, seeing in her a modern political face worthy of backing. Likewise, others are entitled to disagree with him, engage in discussions about his positions, and critique his choices. However, such differences do not grant any party the authority to suppress his opinions or incite against him and his media outlets.
Politics should be a contest of ideas, programs, and societal projects, not a court for inspecting consciences or distributing certificates of acceptance and belonging. Furthermore, media work should not devolve into a battlefield for settling political scores or a means to compel journalists and publishers into forced alignment.
The attempt to transform political disagreement into a personal attack against Ahmed Al-Shari and his media group does not aid public discourse; instead, it constricts its space and erodes trust in political practice. It would have been more prudent for Abdelilah Benkirane to confront the choices he opposes with reasoned arguments and political programs, allowing citizens to exercise their judgment and preferences among various projects and candidates.
Being from Marrakech and taking pride in one of its political figures does not strip a person of their independent opinion, nor does it grant any entity the power to hold them accountable for their inclinations or choices. Ahmed Al-Shari has the right to express his convictions freely, just as Benkirane has the right to voice his position, but without resorting to defamation, incitement, or exercising control over the media.
Respect for plurality begins with accepting the freedoms of others, especially when they choose differently than we do and see hope where we do not. The nation is vast enough for everyone, and a sound political life can only be built upon responsible differences and adherence to ideas and programs, far removed from the language of attack and exclusion.
In this context, we declare our full professional solidarity with Ahmed Al-Shari and his media group in confronting any incitement that targets their right to express themselves. We affirm that the dignity of journalists and the independence of media institutions are red lines, and that political disagreements, regardless of their intensity, should never devolve into psychological intimidation, defamation, or calls to besiege dissenters.
Freedom of the press is indivisible, and defending it is not tied to names or political stances but rather to a steadfast principle: there is no democracy without a free press, and no true plurality without respect for the rights of others to choose and express themselves.
As reported by satv.ma.
