Morocco's Controversial Decision: Expulsion of Journalist Nejma Brahim
In a troubling turn of events, Nejma Brahim, a journalist affiliated with the French investigative outlet Mediapart, was expelled from Morocco after enduring an extensive interrogation process upon her arrival at Tangier Airport. The incident has raised eyebrows, particularly due to the mention of her nationality as "French of Algerian origin" on official documents, which has sparked discussions about the implications for Franco-Algerian relations and the treatment of journalists in Morocco.
Nejma Brahim had traveled to Morocco to gather testimonies from families affected by the tragic events surrounding the Ceuta crisis. However, her entry was denied on the evening of August 13, following several hours of questioning by agents from the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN). This incident, reported by Mediapart, showcases the challenges faced by journalists, particularly those with dual heritage, in conducting their work in Morocco.
An Unsettling Night at the Airport
Upon her arrival, Brahim was immediately taken into a separate room for questioning. Throughout this arduous process, which lasted for hours, she explained her purpose in Morocco and clarified her role at Mediapart. Following the interrogation, she was held for an additional five hours, waiting until midnight before being moved to an airport boarding area. Despite the extended detention, the DGSN agents withheld her passport and did not disclose her final destination until she boarded the flight the next day.
To her surprise, Brahim discovered that she was being sent back to Paris. It was the flight commander who eventually returned her passport along with an official document stating her expulsion, which she had not signed and which lacked any specific reasons for her removal. Notably, the document referred to her nationality as "French of Algerian origin," highlighting the DGSN's persistent probing into her Algerian roots.
This incident has left Brahim unable to fulfill her investigative duties regarding the Ceuta tragedy, a situation that the French consular authorities were reportedly unable to prevent despite being alerted. The expulsion underscores the increasingly difficult atmosphere for journalists working in Morocco, particularly those of Franco-Algerian descent. Mediapart has also pointed out that this is not an isolated case, as other journalists from Spanish public television and the EFE news agency faced similar expulsion measures recently.
As reported by tsa-algerie.com.
