The Moroccan Organization for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption has voiced its support for a Marrakech traffic police officer who was temporarily suspended by the General Directorate of National Security after being suspected of soliciting a bribe from a foreign tourist. In a statement, the organization, founded on March 21, 2021, described the officer as a «victim of filming and defamation», labeling the tourist instead as «a suspect». It went further, claiming that «any decision to dismiss or arrest the officer would be a gift to the nation's enemies abroad». The case dates back to August 8, 2025, when Marrakech police opened an investigation into alleged professional misconduct by the officer after a video circulated on social media appeared to show him attempting to extract money from a foreign driver. Preempting the investigation's findings, the organization questioned the authenticity of the footage, suggesting it may have been fabricated or altered, and argued that the tourist should have submitted it to the authorities rather than posting it online. It further linked the incident to Algeria, accusing «suspicious pages affiliated with Algerian intelligence» of sharing the video in a «desperate attempt» to tarnish Morocco's image. The group also urged authorities to arrest the tourist and open an investigation, warning that punishing the officer would amount to a «free gift» to foreign adversaries. This is not the first time the organization's positions have sparked controversy. It previously called on the governor of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region to ban a solidarity march for the Palestinian people, arguing it would «incite sedition and undermine internal stability». It also took former Moroccan Association for Human Rights president Aziz Ghali to court, accusing him of «undermining territorial integrity and insulting the Moroccan people».
