The 35-year-old independent reporter, known for his positions critical of power, was being prosecuted for “undermining the internal security of the state” with “foreign financing” and for “rape”, two separate cases, investigated and judged jointly.
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“My only wrong is to have called for independent justice”. Omar Radi, Moroccan journalist and human rights defender, was sentenced on appeal by the Moroccan courts to six years in prison in a double case of“spying” and of “rape”on the night of Thursday 3 to Friday 4 March. “It’s a very harsh judgment. We presented all the elements proving the innocence of Omar Radi before the court but unfortunately nothing was taken into account”told AFP Miloud Kandil, defense lawyer, who will appeal in cassation.
The 35-year-old independent reporter, known for his positions critical of power, was being prosecuted for “undermining the internal security of the state” with “foreign financing” and for “rape”, two separate cases, investigated and judged jointly. He claims to be prosecuted because of his views critical of power and has always denied the charges against him.
The Casablanca Court of Appeal thus confirmed the heavy sentence pronounced at first instance on July 19, 2021. The prosecution had claimed on Tuesday “the maximum sentence against the accused with regard to the incriminating elements”. In Morocco, the charge of rape is punishable by ten years in prison.