Amnesty Urges Morocco To Release Dissident Historian
Muhammad Irfan Published January 27, 2021 | 11:48 PM
Amnesty International on Wednesday urged Morocco to release dissident historian and rights activist Maati Monjib, who has been in pre-trial detention for a month on money-laundering accusations
Tunis, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2021 ) :Amnesty International on Wednesday urged Morocco to release dissident historian and rights activist Maati Monjib, who has been in pre-trial detention for a month on money-laundering accusations.
"The Moroccan authorities must immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender Maati Monjib and drop all charges against him," the London-based rights group said.
Monjib, 60, was arrested in late December after the prosecution said it had seized evidence of money transfers and real estate assets beyond the means of Monjib and his family.
The historian said at the time that these accusations were "not new" and had already been part of a trial for "financial embezzlement" and "undermining state security" which opened in 2015 but has been repeatedly adjourned.
Monjib insists he is innocent.
Free Press Unlimited, which has helped fund Monjib's rights work, said he "should be acquitted of all charges".
Free Press Unlimited and two other NGOs which made the transfers in question have not complained about Monjib's management of the funds, his lawyer said.
Moroccan and overseas activists and intellectuals have signed a petition calling for the historian's release.
Monjib has yet to be questioned by an investigating judge.
Human Rights Watch noted in its 2021 global rights report that Morocco last year "cracked down harder on social media commentators, artists, and journalists critical of the monarchy." The government's own rights commission rejected such accusations as "lies", and Rabat insists its judiciary is independent.
Amnesty International's deputy regional director Amna Guellali said the kingdom was on a "relentless quest to curtail Monjib's right to freedom of expression and bully him into submission".
She urged Moroccan authorities to drop all charges against him and open "a robust, independent and transparent investigation into the unlawful digital surveillance Monjib was subjected to for years".
The rights group in 2019 published a report accusing Rabat of using powerful spying technology to tap opposition activists' phones.
Morocco denies this.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
Pakistan, Qatar agree to further expand trade, investment ties
Sindh cabinet approves Rs177.5m to strengthen, mobilize various wings of police
Faisal Karim Kundi takes oath as new KP Governor
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Chaudhry seeks more vibrant ..
Tahaffuz Manzil Foster Home providing care & support to homeless children
PCB proposes April 7 -May 20 window; tweaks in rules for HBL PSL 2025
Field hospitals now operational across Punjab: Azma Bukhari
More Stories From World
-
Football: French Ligue 1 results - collated
6 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A results - collated
6 hours ago -
European Champions Cup semi-final result
6 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
6 hours ago -
Tennis: WTA Madrid Open results
6 hours ago -
Formula One: Miami Grand Prix sprint race results
6 hours ago
-
Barca have 'huge amount' to change next season: coach Xavi
6 hours ago -
Haaland 'back to business' with four-goal haul in Man City rout of Wolves
7 hours ago -
Newcomer Bellingham Madrid's driving force in La Liga conquest
7 hours ago -
Girona players have made history, says coach after reaching Champions League
7 hours ago -
Reus begins farewell tour while Bayern stumble in Stuttgart
7 hours ago -
Real Madrid La Liga title win in numbers
7 hours ago