Calls for Justice and Protection for Whistleblowers in Morocco
In a recent statement that has stirred significant discussions across Morocco, Mohamed Ghalloussi, the head of the Moroccan Association for the Protection of Public Funds, has made a compelling plea for the release of Professor Rachid Cherkab. Ghalloussi emphasized the critical importance of taking seriously Cherkab's complaints regarding the management of his hospital and underscored the need for authorities to protect individuals who come forward with allegations of corruption. He expressed concern over the media's portrayal of Cherkab, who has become a focal point in a larger narrative surrounding accountability and transparency in the healthcare system.
Ghalloussi took to Facebook to voice his frustrations, noting that certain parties seem unsettled by the growing wave of support for Cherkab. He claimed that these parties have begun reaching out to various media outlets and websites, attempting to launch a campaign that paints the professor in a negative light, branding him as “impulsive and foolish.” Such characterizations suggest an effort to undermine his credibility and dismiss the serious allegations he has raised against his colleagues.
Professor Rachid Cherkab, a well-respected doctor and educator at Casablanca’s medical school, has reportedly made multiple complaints about the hospital's management. However, Ghalloussi pointed out that these complaints have not been adequately addressed, despite Cherkab's persistent efforts to bring them to the attention of judicial authorities and public prosecutors. In a recent development, Cherkab was questioned by the National Judicial Police Brigade in 2024 regarding these allegations, which involve suspected corruption and mismanagement that warrant thorough investigation.
Further complicating matters, the Casablanca-Centre regional branch of the association received a request for support from Cherkab himself. Ghalloussi revealed that the branch's president, Mohamed Mchkor, had formally reached out to the attorney general at the Casablanca Court of Appeal on May 5, advocating for a swift investigation and urging that justice be served fairly and promptly.
In an alarming turn of events, on October 21, the Ain Sebaa Court of First Instance in Casablanca rendered a verdict sentencing Cherkab to one year in prison along with a fine of MAD 5,000. He was not alone in facing these charges; Abdellatif Seddar, a former hospital technician and national secretary of the Democratic Health Union, alongside another hospital technician named Mohamed Ait Taleb, were also prosecuted. The charges included impersonating a legally constituted organization and disseminating what were deemed false claims that could harm others' reputations.
Moreover, the court has ordered the defendants to collectively pay MAD 1 million to the Casablanca-Settat Regional Health Group, with additional compensatory damages awarded to individual plaintiffs, according to local sources. Ghalloussi has raised questions about the legitimacy of Cherkab's immediate arrest following the verdict, highlighting that he had been tried while free and that the ruling has not yet reached a conclusive status. He noted that the application of Article 392 of the Criminal Procedure Code as an exception in this case was questionable, asserting that Cherkab and his co-defendants have filed an appeal against the ruling.
“No one, including Cherkab, is above the law, and all individuals, including public authorities, must be held accountable as stipulated by the Constitution,” Ghalloussi remarked. He has called upon the Court of Appeal to reconsider the detention decision, arguing that Cherkab does not pose a threat to society. Instead, Ghalloussi pointed out that the real danger lies in the ongoing issues of corruption, misappropriation of public funds, and the culture of impunity that hampers justice in Morocco. He underscored the necessity of protecting whistleblowers like Cherkab, who should be supported rather than penalized for their courage in speaking out against wrongdoing.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
