Over 50 freedom of expression organisations call for immediate release of Moroccan editor Ali Anouzla

We, the undersigned press freedom and freedom of expression organisations call on the authorities in Morocco to immediately release Ali Anouzla, editor of the Arabic edition of the news website Lakome, who was arrested on 17 September 2013, in connection with an article published on his website.

According to information available to us, police arrested Ali Anouzla at his home and seized computers and hard drives from the journalist's home and the offices of Lakome. We understand that the journalist is currently being held in Casablanca, pending charges.

Anouzla was arrested in connection with a 13 September news article published on the Arabic edition of Lakome, which included a link to a video posted on the website of the leading Spanish daily El País. The video, embedded from YouTube, allegedly sharply criticized King Mohammed VI of Morocco, accusing him of despotism and corruption, and called on Moroccan youth to engage in jihad. YouTube has since removed the video.

While Lakome's article was critical of the video, on 17 September, Morocco's general prosecutor stated that the video was "a clear invitation and a direct incitement to take part in acts of terrorism in the Moroccan kingdom" and that publishing threats from Al-Qaeda was a criminal action. He added that victims of terrorist attacks in Morocco had requested the authorities to initiate a judicial investigation into several newspapers that had reposted the video. However, Lakome did not post the video itself, but only a link to a website containing the video.

The Moroccan Ministry of Justice also reportedly said it would take legal action against El País.

The French edition of Lakome also published an article on the same day as the Arabic edition that included a direct link to the YouTube video, but its editor has reportedly not faced any official charges or harassment in connection with the article.

We are concerned that Ali Anouzla was singled out for linking to media content, which was already widely available through other sources, and that the Moroccan authorities may decide to prosecute him under the country's sweeping anti-terrorism law, which has been criticised for failing to uphold international fair trial guarantees.

We also remind the Moroccan authorities that under international legal standards, restriction of the right to freedom of expression for reasons of national security, including under anti-terrorism legislation, must meet certain conditions known as the "three-part test" developed by the UN Human Rights Committee. National security cannot be used as a pretext for imposing vague or arbitrary limitations, such as in this case, and may only be invoked when there exists adequate safeguards and effective remedies against abuse. As highlighted in the Johannesburg Principles, developed in 1995 by a group of international experts, expression may be regarded as a threat to national security only if a government can demonstrate that the expression is intended to incite imminent violence; is likely to incite such violence; and that there is a direct and immediate connection between the expression and the likelihood or occurrence of such violence.

Lakome is well known for its extensive coverage of corruption and abuses within the Moroccan government since its establishment in 2010. Anouzla has been investigated multiple times by the Moroccan authorities in connection with the website's coverage, most recently in June after he accused the Moroccan intelligence services of instigating a smear campaign against him.

We call on the Moroccan authorities to immediately release Ali Anouzla and allow the country's media to participate in public debate on issues of great public concern to Morocco.

Sincerely,

Africa Freedom of Information Centre

Aliansi Jurnalis Independen/Alliance of Independent Journalists

Arabic Network for Human Rights Information

ARTICLE 19

Association of Caribbean Media Workers

Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Cambodian Center for Human Rights

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression

Cartoonists Rights Network International

Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility

Committee to Protect Journalists

Egyptian Organization for Human Rights

Electronic Frontier Foundation

Espacio Público

Foundation for Press Freedom - FLIP

Freedom House

Globe International

Independent Journalism Center - Moldova

Index on Censorship

Initiative for Freedom of Expression - Turkey

Institute for the Studies on Free Flow of Information

Instituto Prensa y Sociedad de Venezuela

International Press Institute

International Publishers Association

Journaliste en danger

Maharat Foundation

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance

Media Foundation for West Africa

Media Rights Agenda

Norwegian PEN

Pacific Islands News Association

PEN International

Public Association "Journalists"

South East European Network for Professionalization of Media

West African Journalists Association

World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers

World Press Freedom Committee

International Media Support (IMS)

Adala (Justice) Association, Morocco

Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD)

Citizens Assembly, Morocco

Community Media Solutions

Free Press Unlimited

Front Line Defenders

Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR)

Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI)

Moroccan Association for Investigative Journalism

Nawaat.org

Regional Center for Training and Development of Civil Society, Sudan

Tunis Center for Press Freedom

Tunisian League to Defend Human Rights

Tunisian Association of Democratic Women

Vigilance Association for Democracy and the Civic State

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