Bouachrine, 54, founder and columnist of the daily Akhbar Al Yaoum, suffers from diabetes and is the target of "persecution" and "ill-treatment inflicted by the prison against him," his wife Asmae Moussaoui said in a message to AFP.

Due to complications related to his diabetes, he "has been suffering for three years from terrible pain in his shoulder (...) and the prison doctor advised her to continue treatment in a hospital outside the prison," she said.

The prison agreed that he continue this treatment outside the prison "but on condition that he is handcuffed and wears the uniform of criminals, which was refused by the journalist, seeing it as an attack on his dignity and humanity," said Ms. Moussaoui.

In another statement published on her Facebook page, the journalist's wife called "to intervene urgently by all possible means to help him".

Asked by AFP, the prison administration (DGAPR) did not immediately react, but in a "clarification" published last weekend it had assured that "the detainee T.B (...) shall receive the necessary health care both within the penitentiary institution and in outside hospitals".

Taoufik Bouachrine was sentenced to 15 years in prison for "rape", "human trafficking" and "sexual assault" against several women. He denied the accusations.

In the face of criticism, the Moroccan authorities respond that Mr. Bouachrine was tried in a common law case that has no connection with his freedom of expression, highlighting "the independence of the judiciary".

Demonstration in support of imprisoned journalist Omar Radi, on December 28, 2019 in Rabat, Morocco © STR / AFP/Archives

Amnesty International recently accused the prison administration of "depriving imprisoned human rights defenders and journalists, including Bouachrine, Omar Radi and Soulaimane Raissouni of the right to read and write". Accusations rejected by the prison administration.

In the latest press freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) for 2023, Morocco slipped to 144th place (-9).

A recent European Parliament resolution expressing concern about the deterioration of press freedom in Morocco has triggered the wrath of the Moroccan political class and media.

The Moroccan justice also rejected Thursday the appeal in cassation of the opponent Mohamed Ziane, former minister of Human Rights, according to his lawyer.

Former Human Rights Minister Mohamed Ziane at the Casablanca court, on April 5, 2018 in Morocco © FADEL SENNA / AFP/Archives

A famous lawyer, having notably defended Taoufik Bouachrine, Mr. Ziane was arrested and imprisoned on November 21 after being sentenced on appeal to three years in prison.

Aged 80, he was prosecuted, under a complaint from the Ministry of the Interior, for eleven charges, including "insulting public officials and justice", "insulting a constituted body", "defamation", "adultery" and "sexual harassment".

The former president of Rabat, who has not spared his criticism of the government in recent years, says he was tried "because of his opinions".

In a report published in July 2022, the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) denounced in Morocco the use of trials for common crimes, particularly sexual crimes, as "techniques of repression" aimed at silencing journalists and opponents.

© 2023 AFP