Union denounces newspaper allegations over Minister's sexual behaviour
Morocco, Politics, 4/20/2004

The "Syndicat national de la presse marocaine," Morocco's journalists Union (SNPM) denounced as "false and fabricated rumors" allegations of the weekly "Akhbar Al Ousboua" (in Arabic) over "bad" sexual behavior of a government member, in an article titled "homosexuality and the Political class in Morocco."

In a press release, published at the end of its administrative council on Saturday, the SNPM voiced "solidarity" with the minister whom it did not name, saying he was "victim of these allegations" and deplored such rumours that "hurt the dignity" of this member of the Government "through nasty journalism."

The SNPM council also voiced "astonishment to see the said article reproduced and disseminated" even in the streets.

It deemed that such an act can only be "organized" as it has mobilized considerable human and material means.

The publication of this article was also condemned by the political bureau of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces party (USFP, member of the coalition in Government) which described as "vile" this campaign that "harms the reputation of our brother Fathallah Oualalou." The latter besides being member of the USFP political bureau, is also Minister of Finance and Privatisation.

The party wished that justice will probe this case with "firmness and probity."

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