Erraji was taken from his house in Agadir on Monday morning and tried immediately. His family says the trial didn’t even take 10 minutes.
Morocco’s legislation doesn’t allow the media to criticize the monarchy. Apparently, this also applies to bloggers.
In the notorious blog-post, Erraji condemns Mohamed VI’s social policies, which Erraji says is rewarding few, while neglecting many. Allegiances and loyalty are bought.
According to Erraji, this policy creates dependence and a priori destroys every work ethos. “It has turned Moroccan into a people without dignity, that lives of donations and gifts”, he wrote.
Human rights organisations, such as Reporters Without Borders and AMDH (Moroccan Human Rights Association), denounce the arrest. They say that Erraji’s blog cannot be interpreted as an offence to the monarchy, as the young man was merely ventilating his political opinion.
The Moroccan government refuses to comment on the case.
An English translation of Erraji's blog can be found on Global Voices Online.
To sign a petition for Mohamed Erraji, go to www.helperraji.com.
Africa's last colonySince 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
Erraji was taken from his house in Agadir on Monday morning and tried immediately. His family says the trial didn’t even take 10 minutes.
Since 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
