Moroccan Court Sentences Former Minister Mohamed Zian
A Moroccan court has handed down a second five-year prison sentence to Mohamed Zian, a former minister and prominent lawyer, on charges of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds. The ruling was made on a Wednesday, with Zian vehemently denying the accusations, claiming that the legal proceedings against him are politically motivated. His assertions have garnered support from human rights activists advocating for his release, while authorities maintain that the cases are purely criminal and unrelated to his political activities.
The 83-year-old Zian, who has been in custody since 2022 following a previous three-year sentence for a different case, was convicted again after the Court of Cassation revoked the initial three-year sentence. The latest charges stem from alleged misappropriation of funds associated with the 2015 election campaign of the Moroccan Liberal Party, which Zian headed.
Initially convicted in a separate case, Zian received a five-year sentence, which was later reduced to three years in May 2025 upon appeal. However, the Court of Cassation annulled this decision, returning the case to the appellate court for reconsideration. On the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, the appellate court ruled anew, sentencing him to five years in prison despite the Court of Cassation previously indicating that the evidence in the case was ambiguous, according to statements from his son Ali Reda Zian, who is also his lawyer.
In his defense, Zian's lawyer insisted that no public funds were misappropriated and announced intentions to appeal the latest ruling to the Court of Cassation once more. Zian's controversial career includes serving as the Minister of Human Rights from 1995 to 1996. His first conviction arose from complaints lodged by the Ministry of Interior, which accused him of multiple offenses, including insulting judicial officers, public servants, and various organized bodies, as well as charges of harassment and blackmail.
As reported by france24.com.
