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Morocco is set to reconsider its ties with the European Parliament following criticism of press freedom in the country.
The decision follows an extraordinary joint session of Morocco’s two legislative chambers in Rabat on Monday that was convened to address last week’s European Parliament resolution.
Moroccan lawmakers called the resolution an unacceptable attack on the kingdom’s sovereignty and the independence of its judicial institutions, according to a joint parliamentary statement read by Speaker of the House of Representatives Rachid Talbi Alami.
Last week, EU lawmakers approved a non-binding resolution calling on Moroccan authorities to improve their respect for freedom of expression and media freedom.
The resolution says press freedom in the North African kingdom continues to deteriorate and calls for a fair trial with full due process guarantees for imprisoned journalists, including Omar Radi, Soulaimane Raissouni and Taoufik Bouachrine.
Such resolutions do not oblige EU member states to act, but give a broad indication of what the bloc of 450 million people thinks about certain issues. The vote was 356 votes to 32 with 42 abstentions.
Morocco’s parliament said the resolution had broken trust and undermined progress made over the years.
He described Morocco as a long-standing and trustworthy partner that plays a major role in protecting rights and freedoms and defending regional and international peace and security.
He said the kingdom would never accept tutelage or lessons from anyone.
The parliament defended the judges’ decisions in the cases mentioned by the EU resolution, saying they had nothing to do with journalism or freedom of expression, but concerned crimes such as sexual assault and exploitation. people’s weaknesses.
Mr. Radi, a prominent investigative journalist and activist, was convicted in 2021 of espionage and sexual assault and sentenced to six years in prison. He denies wrongdoing. Some rights groups say the charges were politically motivated.
Updated: January 24, 2023, 5:45 a.m.
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