Moroccan journalist faces ‘terrorism’ charges

The director of the Moroccan news and information website Lakome, Ali Anouzla who was arrested last week has been charged with “defending and inciting terrorism”, his lawyers said on 25 September

Ali Anouzla, director of the Arabic version of the independent news website Lakome, was arrested on September 17 after his website posted a link to a video attributed to the North African al Qaeda branch, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

Anouzla appeared before a judge in Rabat on Tuesday 24 September, where the public prosecutor called for him to be investigated for “defending”, providing “material assistance to,” and “inciting terrorist acts”, according to Lakome.com.

He was then formally charged on the basis of those allegations, two of his lawyers said on 25 September speaking to AFP.

Anouzla was transferred to Salé prison, near Rabat, where prisoners convicted on terrorism charges are held, after being detained at a police station in Casablanca since his arrest.

Speaking to AFP, Anouzla’s lawyers said the judge now has five months to complete the investigation, which will be conducted within the framework of Morocco’s anti-terrorist law.

In a letter initiated by International Media Support (IMS) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) over 60 Moroccan, North African, Middle Eastern and international freedom of expression and human rights organisations called for Anouzla’s release.

Ali Anouzla is well known in Morocco for his journalistic independence, columns critical of the government and calls for greater press freedom. His website Lakome has reported on issues of public interest, as well as cases of corruption involving Moroccan authorities since it was established in 2010.