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Morocco: Arrest of Journalist in Ethical Case Sparks Controversy

Photo from Hajar Raissouni's Facebook Page
Photo from Hajar Raissouni's Facebook Page
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Morocco: Arrest of Journalist in Ethical Case Sparks Controversy

Photo from Hajar Raissouni's Facebook Page
Photo from Hajar Raissouni's Facebook Page

The National Union of Moroccan Press (NUMP) deplored Wednesday the defamation campaign against a Moroccan journalist who was arrested in an ethical case, which sparked controversy in Morocco.

NUMP, in a statement, said some media platforms are disrespecting the profession’s ethics, and called for combating such practices.

Hajar Raissouni, a journalist for Akhbar Al Yaoum newspaper, was arrested on Saturday on charges of illegal abortion.

According to Alyaoum24 website, an online media company owned by Akhbar Al Yaoum, Raissouni was arrested as she left the gynecological clinic accompanied by her Sudanese fiance. The doctor and two of his assistants were detained.

They were all placed in custody until trial next Monday. They are facing charges of corruption, abortion, and contributing to an abortion.

Raissouni denied the charges while the doctor following her case said before the examining magistrate that the journalist came to his clinic in a critical condition, Alyaoum24 reported. She was bleeding and required urgent surgical intervention, added the doctor.

The website, further, published what it claimed to be a medical report for Raissouni during the pre-trial detention and the report proves that she didn’t undergo an abortion. Some media platforms spoke about circumvention in the report's results.

Activists and politicians reacted to the news, launching a hashtag demanding her release. Some said that she was arrested because of her writings, especially that she works for Akhbar Al Yaoum and Alyaoum24, owned by Taoufik Bouachrine who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for human trafficking and sexual assault.

Among these victims are journalists who used to work at his institution.

However, Bouachrine and those sympathizing with him insist that he was prosecuted because of his writings and his anti-government political stances.

Some activists expressed solidarity with Raissouni for what she is undergoing from defamation and privacy violation.

The Moroccan League for Citizenship and Human Rights (LMCDH) criticized the defamation campaigns targeting the staff of Akhbar Al Yaoum and Alyaoum24, and demanded to form a national front to face these violations against opinion writers.

In a statement, LMCDH considered that arresting Raissouni is part of this campaign.

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EU’s Borrell Urges Israel to Accept Lebanon Ceasefire ‘Today’

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell gives a statement to the media after his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell gives a statement to the media after his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
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EU’s Borrell Urges Israel to Accept Lebanon Ceasefire ‘Today’

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell gives a statement to the media after his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell gives a statement to the media after his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)

The European Union's foreign policy chief urged the Israeli government on Tuesday to back a proposed ceasefire deal in Lebanon which he said has all the necessary security guarantees for Israel.

Speaking at a G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Italy, Josep Borrell said there was no excuse for not implementing the deal with Iran-backed Hezbollah, adding pressure should be exerted on Israel to approve it immediately.

"Let's hope that today (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu will approve the ceasefire agreement proposed by the US and France. No more excuses. No more additional requests," Borrell said, criticizing hard-line Israeli ministers who have spoken against the deal.

Israel looks set to approve a US plan for a ceasefire with Hezbollah on Tuesday, a senior Israeli official said.

Borrell, who said he discussed prospects for a deal in a recent trip to Lebanon, said one of the sticking points was whether France should be included in a committee monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire, which the US is due to chair.

He said the Lebanese have specifically asked for France's involvement, but the Israelis have misgivings.

"This is one of the points that are still missing," he said.

Borrell also criticized what he saw as Western double standards on the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense chief, and a Hamas leader, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

"You cannot applaud when the court goes against (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and remain silent when the court goes against Netanyahu," he said, urging European Union member states to support the ICC.

Italy, which holds the G7 presidency, said on Monday it was trying to broker a common position for the group on the ICC decision, but progress is hard since the US has said it does not recognizethe jurisdiction of the court and opposes the arrest warrant for Netanyahu.

The G7 comprises the US, Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Canada and Japan.