Trial of Abdelhak Andlabe: A Significant Election Integrity Case
Abdelhak Andlabe, a prominent member of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces party, is set to appear before the Marrakech Court of First Instance on Monday, September 28, following a controversial social media post. The post purportedly raised doubts about the integrity of the electoral process in his district. The public prosecutor's office has decided to prosecute Andlabe while allowing him to remain free, citing charges related to creating false or misleading content on social media that could undermine the credibility of electoral operations. Furthermore, he faces allegations of insulting a legally established authority, leading to his case being referred to the court for further legal proceedings.
The charges against Andlabe stem from a post in which he alleged irregularities during the elections in the Sidi Youssef Ben Ali area. His statements prompted the judicial police in Marrakech to investigate the claims made in his post. Notably, the election in this district saw Fatima Zahra Mansouri from the Authenticity and Modernity Party emerge victorious, with Salah Eddine Ayach from the Justice and Development Party coming in second, and Abdelaziz Darwish from the Independence Party finishing third.
This legal action against Andlabe occurs under new legal provisions governing digital content related to electoral processes. Article 51 of the amended organic law No. 53.25, which modifies the previous law No. 27.11 concerning the House of Representatives, stipulates penalties for individuals who disseminate false or misleading content via any means, including social media and electronic platforms, with the intent to harm the integrity and honesty of electoral processes. Violations of this law can result in imprisonment for two to five years and fines ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 dirhams.
As reported by alyaoum24.com.
