RSF calls on king of Morocco to intervene in favor of 2 journalists

Casablanca, Jun 22 (EFE).- Secretary-general of Reporters Without Borders Christophe Deloire on Tuesday called on the king of Morocco to intervene for the release of two detained journalists who stand trial over sexual assault charges.

“I have come to the sessions of the two journalists to launch a solemn appeal to the King (Mohammed VI) and request his personal intervention in these two cases, given their exceptional nature,” Deloire said.

Deloire made these remarks at the entrance of the Casablanca Court of Appeal before a new trial session of journalists Suleiman Raissouni and Omar Radi, who have been critical of the government in the past.

Only the monarch “can avoid a human catastrophe” he said, denouncing the health condition of both Raissouni, who began a hunger strike 75 days ago, and Radi, who suffers from chronic diseases.

The RSF secretary general said he seeks no “exceptional” treatment, but demanded the two journalists be released to avoid an unfair trial “linked to the exercise of their profession.”

Radi and Raissouni were arrested a year ago over charges of sexual assault, as well as crimes against the security of the state for the former.

Morocco ranks 136 out of 180 countries on RSF’s latest report on press freedom. EFE

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