Journalist Omar Radi detained in Morocco for tweet criticizing justice

His arrest sparked outrage on social media. Moroccan journalist and human rights activist Omar Radi was detained on Thursday (December 26th) for a tweet denouncing a court decision, according to his lawyer, Maître Saïd Benhammami.

The latter said that Omar Radi had been heard earlier today by the judicial police who brought him before the prosecutor. He then decided to place him in detention and his trial began immediately afterwards in the evening.

During this first hearing, which took place before the Casablanca Court of First Instance, his lawyers asked for his provisional release. An application dismissed by the court. The next hearing has been scheduled for January 2.

"Contempt of court" punished by one month to one year in prison

Omar Radi is tried under article 263 of the Criminal Code. This provision punishes from one month to one year in prison "contempt of court", according to Maître Said Benhammani.

According to his defense, the 33-year-old journalist is being prosecuted for a tweet published in April. He castigated the verdict of a magistrate against members of Hirak, a social protest movement that agitated northern Morocco in 2016 and 2017. A judge of the Casablanca Court of Appeal had then confirmed sentences of up to to twenty years imprisonment of 42 members of Hirak.

"Lahcen Talfi, judge of the court of appeal, executioner of our brothers, let us remember him well. In many regimes, little arms like him came back to beg after claiming to 'have carried out orders'. Neither forgotten nor sorry with these dignified officials! "he wrote in his tweet.

Lahcen Talfi, judge of the court of appeal, executioner of our brothers, let us remember him well. In many regimes, little arms like him came back to beg after claiming "to have carried out orders". No forgetting or forgiveness with these dignified officials! https://t.co/MlCAqhPlCX

Indignation and support pages

Following the publication of this tweet last April, the journalist had already been heard for the first time by the judicial police. An investigation was then opened.

Omar Radi's arrest on Thursday sparked outrage on social media and was reported by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). On Facebook and Twitter, support pages for the Moroccan journalist have been created under the name of "Free Omar Radi" in order to share information, relay articles and federate a community of support around the journalist.

The first time Omar was summoned about this tweet was in April 2019. Here's what he reported when he ...

In Morocco, a new press code no longer providing for prison terms came into force in 2016, but journalists continue to be prosecuted according to the Criminal Code, which is not without concern for international NGOs.

In its latest annual press freedom ranking, RSF ranked Morocco 135th out of 180 countries.

With AFP

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