To international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW), Morocco «should immediately free those who are being detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression and drop the charges». HRW recalled Wednesday that the Moroccan authorities have arrested and prosecuted at least 10 activists since September 2019. Quoting the Moroccan Association of Human Rights, the New York-based NGO said that the arrestees are «artists or activists who did nothing but peacefully express critical opinions via Facebook posts, YouTube videos, or rap songs». The men in question are tried for showing a «lack of due respect for the king, defaming state institutions and offending public officials», wrote the NGO, stressing that none of them were prosecuted under the Press and Publications Law. «An increasing number of Moroccans are taking to social media to express bold political opinions, including about the king, as is their right», said Ahmed Benchemsi, Middle East and North Africa communications director at Human Rights Watch. «As self-censorship erodes, the authorities have stepped in to frantically try to reinstate the red lines», he added. For the record, the arrested include students, artists, citizen journalists and social media commentators.
