Morocco: Lawmakers to assessment ties with European Parliament

Moroccan lawmakers on Monday voted unanimously to assessment ties with the European Parliament, accusing it of meddling after a decision that urged the dominion to respect press freedom.

Members of each homes of Morocco’s parliament met within the capital Rabat for a joint session in response to the non-binding European textual content adopted on Thursday.

In a press release after their session, the Moroccan legislators known as the European decision “an unacceptable assault in opposition to the sovereignty, dignity and independence of judicial establishments within the kingdom.”

They mentioned it had “significantly harmed the elemental belief” between them.

Because of this, Morocco’s Parliament “determined to rethink its relations with the European Parliament and submit them for an total analysis,” mentioned Rachid Talbi Alami, speaker of the Home of Representatives. He gave no additional particulars.

Below a 1996 settlement, Morocco and the European Union have been linked in tight financial and industrial relations, significantly in agriculture and fishing.

“Their choices should not going to intimidate us, and we’re not going to vary our path and method,” mentioned Mohammed Ghiat, president of the Nationwide Rally of Independents, the largest celebration in Morocco’s ruling coalition.

European lawmakers in Strasbourg had urged Morocco to “respect freedom of expression and media freedom” and to “assure imprisoned journalists… a good trial”.

The Reporters With out Borders (RSF) watchdog welcomed the EU parliament vote as a break with “25 years of passivity”.

Some lawmakers noticed Morocco’s former colonial energy France as pushing the European measure.

“Behind the scenes of this resolution hides a rustic which we had considered a good friend and a stable companion, however the odor of fuel has made it lose it”, mentioned Ahmed Touizi, of the Authenticity and Modernity Occasion.

Touizi, whose celebration belongs to the bulk coalition, was referring to warming ties between Paris and Algeria, Morocco’s neighbour and rival — and a significant exporter of fuel to European nations.

“Morocco has had sufficient of double requirements,” Abdelmajid Fassi Fihri, of the Istiqlal Occasion, informed AFP. He deplored the truth that the European Parliament had not condemned assaults on press freedom in Algeria.

– Journalists jailed –

Two of essentially the most outstanding journalists’ circumstances in Morocco are these of Omar Radi and Soulaimane Raissouni, each sentenced at attraction final 12 months on sexual abuse costs.

Radi, 36, who has been essential of Moroccan authorities, was sentenced to 6 years in jail for rape and espionage, costs he denies.

Raissouni is serving a five-year sentence. He, too, has at all times maintained his innocence, and says he was prosecuted “due to his opinions”.

Moroccan authorities insist the judiciary is impartial, and that the circumstances in opposition to journalists don’t have anything to do with journalism.

Final week European parliamentarians additionally mentioned they had been “deeply involved” by allegations that Moroccan authorities had bribed its members, and reaffirmed the European Parliament’s dedication to “totally investigating” corruption.

The corruption scandal involving MEPs that erupted final month despatched shockwaves by way of EU circles in Brussels, with MEPs accused of taking bribes from Qatar in addition to Morocco.

Each international locations vehemently deny the accusations.

Following the European decision, an “authorised supply” on the international ministry in Rabat, quoted by a media outlet near the federal government, mentioned the EU measure would have “no influence on Morocco”.

The supply mentioned it “matches with the aggressions and harassments sustained by the dominion from these disturbed by Morocco’s improvement, prosperity and robust function within the area.”