Mustafa El-Hesnawi is known for defending the rights of detainees from the Islamic movement in Morocco. He received a warrant from the National Brigade of Judicial Officers on 16 May and was called in for investigation. Soon after he arrived, he was arrested and officials refused to declare the reasons behind the investigation or the nature of the charges pressed against him.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) denounces the Moroccan security services’ continued detention of blogger and activist Mustafa El-Hesnawi who was first arrested on 16 May 2013 without any mention of the reasons for his arrest.
El-Hesnawi is known for defending the rights of detainees from the Islamic movement. He received a warrant from the National Brigade of Judicial Officers on 16 May and was called in for investigation. Soon after he arrived, he was arrested and officials refused to declare the reasons behind the investigation or the nature of the charges pressed against him.
It is likely El-Hesnawi was arrested for his criticisms of people close to the authorities and his continuing defense of human rights. His last piece of writing, which was published before he was summoned for investigation, was about veiled female students who were banned from entering the school because of the length of their veil. He was the first to expose this case and publish it in the media.
ANHRI expresses its grave concern regarding El-Hesnawi’s fate and the means used by security forces in order to arrest him.
“What Mustafa has been subjected to could be seen as a painful blow to freedom of the press and free expression in Morocco,” said ANHRI, “the authorities must accept cricism by others, particularly by bloggers who have nothing to use against them but their pens.”
ANHRI holds the authorities fully responsible for any harm that El-Hesnawy may incur, it also demands of authorities to rectify the matter, to release him, and to hold those responsible for his arrest accountable.
