Audio By Carbonatix
A Moroccan human rights activist will go on trial charged with spreading fake news, offending institutions and false reporting after accusing the kingdom of using migration and espionage to pressure France, a Casablanca prosecutor said on Friday.
Fouad Abdelmoumni was arrested on Wednesday for interrogation by police before being released on Friday.
Abdelmoumni's remarks on social media "undermine the interests of the Kingdom and some of its institutions and transgresses freedom of speech, while including elements that constitute legally punishable crimes," a spokesman for the prosecutor told reporters in Casablanca.
His trial will start on December 2, a judicial source said.
During a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron this week, Abdelmoumni wrote on Facebook -- without offering evidence -- that Morocco was using migration, security intelligence and espionage to pressure France.
Macron carried out his Oct 28-30 visit as the two countries turn the page on years of diplomatic tensions, with migration and espionage among issues that have strained ties.
"Charging him for peacefully expressing his views would be a blatant violation of his right to free speech under international law," Human Rights Watch said of Abdelmoumni.
Moroccan rights group AMDH said he was arrested arbitrarily because of his political activism.
His lawyer Souad Brahma said Abdelmoumni was arrested for freely expressing his opinion on social media.
Latest Stories
-
Aayalolo adds 48 buses to fleet as GAPTE moves to ease Accra traffic
9 minutes -
Use digital platforms to build peace, not spread prejudice – Opoku-Agyemang to youth
18 minutes -
Clinic says Nigerian influencer ignored doctor’s advice to split penis enlargement procedure
19 minutes -
The grass is greener somewhere is an illusion – Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah tells Ghanaian youth
28 minutes -
My marriage will be secret – Singer Joeboy
38 minutes -
KATH hails Ghana Medical Trust Fund after GH¢4m equipment boost
47 minutes -
‎Free Primary Healthcare reaches 135 districts
56 minutes -
Tunisian journalists protest over media crackdown after colleague’s arrest
1 hour -
Equatorial Guinea police pull guns on migrants deported by Trump, witnesses say
1 hour -
Singaporean man pleads guilty in US to massive crypto heist
1 hour -
WHO says staff shortage, funding challenges hamper Congo Ebola response
2 hours -
IMF is not Father Christmas; Ghana must take charge – PUWU
2 hours -
More UK flight delays expected after hundreds cancelled by air traffic control glitch
2 hours -
Very hot drinks may damage the food pipe and increase cancer risk
2 hours -
Fix IPP pricing, not just ECG, PUWU tells IMF, World Bank
2 hours