Court bans Lmrabet from exercising journalism for 10 years
Morocco, Politics, 4/13/2005

A Moroccan court sentenced, on Tuesday, Journalist Ali Lmrabet to a 10-year ban from exercising journalism and to a fine of MAD 50,000 (around USD 5882).

Controversial Lmbrabet was sued by Ahmed Khar, spokesperson of the Association of Families of Sahrawis Victims of Repression in Tindouf camps (PASVERTI) who accused him of defamation.

Lmrabet was also condemned to pay one symbolic Dirham to Ahmed Khar and to publish the verdict in a local newspaper for three weeks.

According to the complaint the spokesperson filed against the journalist, the latter stated last January to "AlMoustaqbal" weekly that the populations in the Polisario-controlled Tindouf camps (western Algeria) are not sequestered, describing as "lies and allegations," Morocco's statements that these natives of the Moroccan Sahara are being held against their will in those camps by the separatist movement Polisario. The latter, backed by Algeria, has been claiming since 1976 the separation of Morocco's Southern Provinces, known as the Sahara, from the rest of the North African country. The former Spanish colony was handed back to Morocco in 1975 under the so-called Madrid Accords that were signed with Mauritania and Spain.

The plaintiff argued that he was himself kidnapped in 1975 along with several Moroccans in the Sahara, a fact, he explained, was proved by Moroccan authorities and national and international human rights organizations.

The verdict issued Tuesday by the First Instance Court of Rabat against journalist Ali Lmrabet, sentenced for defamation to a 10-year ban from exercising journalism has sparked different reactions with some Sahrawi NGOs deeming it a "light sentence" while the Press Union is asking for reconsidering the verdict.

Lmbrabet who enjoy a dual Moroccan-french nationality was also sentenced to a MAD 50,000 (Euros 5,000) for having affirmed that the populations in the Polisario-controlled Tindouf camps (south-western Algeria) are free of their movement. Three Sahrawi human rights associations deplored the sentence as being "light with regard to the scale of the case, which does not only harm the human rights activist, Ahmed Khar, but also some 30 million Moroccans." The press Union, "Syndicat national de la presse marocaine" (SNPM), called, on the other hand, for a review of the verdict based on a "provision that has nothing to do with the Press Code."

Judicial sources earlier explained that the verdict is based on article 87 of the Penal Code.

While recalling that it had already criticized the justice for resorting to such an article in two previous cases involving journalists, the press Union nonetheless lashed out at Lmrabet's "levity" in exercising journalism and at his attacks on fellow journalists in Morocco, citing in this regard his recent accusations against MAP correspondents in Madrid whom he considered as "intelligence agents."

In a statement to French news agency "AFP," SNPM Secretary General, Younes Moujahid, although against the verdict, accused Lmrabet of "maintaining links with the Spanish fascist right."

Earlier, several Sahrawi human rights associations criticized as "light" the verdict issued against Ali Lmrabet

for having told, in January, Moroccan weekly "Al Moustakil" that the populations living in the Tindouf camps "enjoy free movement and do not wish to return to Morocco," and for having described, as "lies and allegations," statements that these natives of the Moroccan Sahara are being held against their will in those camps by the separatist movement Polisario. Lmrabet was sued by Ahmed Khar, spokesperson of the Association of Families of Sahrawis Victims of Repression in Tindouf camps (PASVERTI) who affirms having been in the past sequestrated by the Polisario. The latter, backed by Algeria, has been claiming since 1976 the separation of Morocco's Southern Provinces, known as the Sahara, from the rest of the North African country. Morocco retrieved the former Spanish colony in 1975 under the so-called Madrid Accords that were signed with Mauritania and Spain Lmrabet's lawyer on his part described as "unique and unfair" the verdict rendered in absentia against Lmrabet. He also complained he was not allowed to prepare and plead his case."

Previous Stories:
  Prosecutor charges for corruption managers of the oldest charity in Morocco   (4/12/2005)
  NGOs stage sit-in to denounce Ali Lmrabet statements   (4/6/2005)
  Jounalist Lmrabet should amend for his serious mistakes toward journalism profession, SNMP SG   (3/25/2005)
  Sahrawi human rights advocacy association protests Reporters sans frontieres release   (2/7/2005)

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