Morocco: Human rights activist sentenced to two years in jail for criticising government officials

A Moroccan court on Friday sentenced an activist to two years in jail for criticising government officials on social media, in a case that has sparked condemnation by Amnesty International.

Saida El Alami, 48, a vocal human rights activist with regular online posts who was arrested on March 23, was found guilty in a Casablanca court of crimes including "insulting a body regulated by law" and "insulting public officials while carrying out their duties".

Alami, who denied the charges and plans to appeal the ruling, was also found guilty of "broadcasting and distributing false allegations".

Describing herself as a "political dissident" on Facebook and a member of a group called "Moroccan Women against Political Detention", Alami showed her support for jailed journalists and activists.

"The Casablanca court... sentenced Saida El Alami to two years in prison, a sentence accompanied by a fine of 5,000 dirhams ($500)," her lawyer Souad Brahma said.

#Morocco: Casablanca First Instance Court sentenced #Saida_El_Alami to 2 years in prison for social media posts denouncing Moroccan authorities' repression of journalists and activists.We call for her unconditional release and for dropping all charges now https://t.co/mX3c58vc9d

— Amnesty MENA (@AmnestyMENA) April 29, 2022

Earlier this month, Amnesty International cited the case of Alami, saying that Morocco's authorities had "stepped up their harassment of human rights defenders and activists", condemning what it said were "unfounded criminal investigations and bogus charges in a shameless bid to silence critical voices".

On Monday, another Moroccan human rights activist, Rabie Al Ablaq, 35, was sentenced to four years in prison for "offending" King Mohammed VI on social media.

He has appealed his sentence and is not in custody.