Prosecutor dismisses as 'groundless allegations' Journalist Lemrabet's statements
Morocco, Politics, 2/12/2005

The prosecutor at the Rabat First Instance Court has dismissed as "allegations" the statements to a Spanish daily by controversial Moroccan-French journalist Ali Lemrabet that he was not allowed to submit his application to issue a new newspaper in Morocco.

Lemrabet himself recently conceded he did not present any application regarding the publication of a newspaper, Al-Imani Abdessalam said in a clarification note sent to MAP.

In a letter to the Spanish "El Pais" daily, run on February 7th, 2005, Lemrabet reiterated, however, his allegation that he was not allowed, by a policeman, to see the prosecutor to submit his application on the issuing of the newspaper.

Lemrabet also claimed in the letter that Al-Imani was behind what he calls "his political trial" and the four-month prison term he was sentenced to in November 2001, and also behind another of the journalist's four-year condemnation in May 2003.

He also claimed the prosecutor gave instruction to illegally seize his newspaper "Demain magazine" and order the ban of "Demain magazine" and "Demain."

The note said all that was reported by Ali Lemrabet is but "sheer, groundless allegations, especially when he claims that a policeman prevented him from seeing the prosecutor."

It noted that Lemrabet did not stand trial only twice, as he claims, for several defamation complaints and insult cases that were filed against him by many people, including by journalists. Some of the complaints were ruled by courts, while others are still under investigation or awaiting verdicts, the note added.

In all these cases, Lemrabet was provided with defence lawyers enjoying all the legal guarantees and rights, the note said adding the journalist stood trial for breaches of the press code and "not for anything else, as he claims in the letter."

It seems, the victim stance Lemrabet is adopting is but an attempt to evade his inability to face the reality in a democratic country that is committed to the freedom of expression, the note said.

Previous Stories:
  Istiqlal Party: Lemrabet's statements on Sahara profit only to Algeria   (2/8/2005)
  The world is now aware the Sahara issue is a Moroccan-Algerian dispute, party leader   (2/8/2005)
  Lemrabet press statements on Sahrawi populations are inadmissible, Sahrawi associations   (2/5/2005)

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