(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on United States (US) Secretary of State Colin Powell to persuade King Mohammed VI to release imprisoned journalists when he meets with him during an official visit to Morocco on 2 December 2003. “The United States regularly stresses its attachment to press freedom, so we ask you to make full […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on United States (US) Secretary of State Colin Powell to persuade King Mohammed VI to release imprisoned journalists when he meets with him during an official visit to Morocco on 2 December 2003.
“The United States regularly stresses its attachment to press freedom, so we ask you to make full respect for this basic freedom a priority in your talks with the king, and to make US economic aid conditional on it,” said Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general.
Two journalists are currently in prison. Ali Lmrabet has been jailed since 21 May and Mohammed el-Hourd since 13 June. Three others – Moustapha Kechnini, Abdelaziz Jallouli and Miloud Trigui – have been given prison sentences ranging from 18 months to two years, but are still free pending appeals.
On 7 November, US President George Bush called for the democratisation of governments in the Middle East and said Morocco had made significant progress in this regard. RSF notes, however, that press freedom is the key to democracy. Morocco, a strong US regional ally, gets much-needed economic aid from the US. On 28 October, Washington announced it would quadruple its non-military aid to the country as of 2004.
