Moroccan journalist Ali Anouzla jailed for posting a link to a video from Al Qaeda in Maghreb
In one ongoing case in Morocco, the act of linking to a news article that linked to a YouTube video that was posted by a terrorist group has landed a prominent editor in jail, charged with “material assistance” to a terrorist group, “defending terrorism,” and “inciting the execution of terrorist acts.” EFF article
Journalism is not terrorism My blog post
Ali Anouzla article Wikipedia
Ali Anouzla released provisionally Al Jazeera
Moroccan journalist Ali Anouzla was arraigned on Tuesday on terrorism-related charges in a case that has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organisations and press freedom groups who say the charges are meant to stifle critical reporting.
"Moroccans have the right to know that a terrorist organisation is threatening their rulers," said Jamai, who runs the French version of Lakome, in a phone interview. "The accusation that Ali is promoting terrorism is absurd. Like other media outlets in the world in similar cases, we simply reported the story."
Hearing postponed till October 30th Committee to Protect Journalists
He appeared on Tuesday before an investigating judge in Rabat. The courts examines "terrorism cases," Khadija Riadi, former president of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights and coordinator of the National Committee to Free Anouzla, told me. The judge postponed the hearing to October 30, according to Riadi, and is considering a request to temporarily release Anouzla, according to news reports.The two charges carry sentences of up to six years and 20 years' imprisonment respectively, according to Amnesty international, which has adopted Anouzla as a "prisoner of conscience."
The London-based human rights group expressed its deep concern that Moroccan authorities failed to make a distinction "between the right to freedom of expression on the one hand, and incitement to terrorism ... on the other hand," and would send the message that "any discussion of terrorism, including criticism of counter-terrorism strategies, will be treated by the government of Morocco as a criminal offence".
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