Opposition Demands Pardon for Former Moroccan Human Rights…

Morocco’s opposition is intensifying efforts for King Mohammed VI to grant a royal pardon to Mohamed Ziane, a former human rights minister serving five years for allegedly politically motivated charges. Critics, including Ziane’s family and various rights organizations, contest the legitimacy of his convictions, viewing them as retaliatory actions. This situation underscores broader concerns about the repression of dissent in Morocco and the challenges faced by political opposition.

Morocco’s opposition parties are actively lobbying King Mohammed VI for a royal pardon for Mohamed Ziane, an 81-year-old former Minister of Human Rights, who is currently serving five years in prison. Rights groups characterize the conviction as politically motivated, arising from charges of corruption and embezzlement from a 2015 election campaign, accusations that Ziane’s son vehemently denies.

Ziane, a prominent lawyer and founder of the Moroccan Liberal Party, has been subjected to multiple legal challenges, including a previous three-year sentence related to charges of defamation and insulting a public official. Critics argue that these verdicts are retaliatory measures for Ziane’s vocal defense of journalists and political dissidents, with rights organizations condemning the judicial process as unfair.

Once a high-ranking civil servant and human rights minister, Ziane has been increasingly critical of the Moroccan state and its intelligence apparatus. He was previously highlighted in a Human Rights Watch report for the government’s repression of dissent and activists.

The opposition has persistently called for pardons for Ziane, alongside others imprisoned for political dissent, particularly those involved in the 2016 Hirak Rif protests. These protests demanded social justice and addressed economic issues faced by the marginalized Rif community.

King Mohammed VI possesses the sole authority to grant pardons, which he has previously employed to commutate sentences of jailed critics during significant national events. However, the restrictive conditions associated with such pardons, requiring detainees to seek forgiveness, have been heavily criticized by activists, who perceive this as an additional form of humiliation.

Activists emphasize that the issue transcends Ziane’s individual case, articulating that “this is not just about one man […] It’s about sending a message: dissent has a price.” The climate surrounding dissent in Morocco has worsened, as illustrated by recent imprisonments of activists opposing the country’s normalization with Israel.

The current political backdrop in Morocco features a growing clamor for justice and the protection of human rights from opposition parties and various rights organizations. The case of Mohamed Ziane underscores broader concerns regarding the treatment of political dissenters in a country where freedom of expression remains under threat. Ziane’s legal troubles reflect the precarious state of political opposition in Morocco, where previous protests have led to significant crackdowns by the government.

In summary, the mounting calls from Morocco’s opposition parties for a pardon of Mohamed Ziane shed light on persistent human rights concerns within the nation. The allegations of politically motivated charges against Ziane highlight a troubling trend of repression against dissenters. The conversation surrounding Ziane’s pardon is symbolic of the wider struggle for freedom of expression and political rights in Morocco, emphasizing that the cost of dissent remains high.

Original Source: www.newarab.com