Case History: Mostafa Al-Hesnawi
On 28 October 2013, the Rabat appeals court sentenced journalist and human rights defender Mr Mostafa Al-Hesnawi to three years in prison for “creating a terrorist organisation that threatens national security and stability”. The sentence was reduced in appeal from the original four-year sentence.
Mostafa Al-Hesnawi is a blogger, a journalist for the Moroccan newspaper Al Sabeel and is a member of Al Karama Forum for Human Rights. He has been a vocal opponent of the anti-terrorism legislation and its use against individuals not involved in terrorist activities.
On 28 October 2013, the Rabat appeals court sentenced journalist and human rights defender Mr Mostafa Al-Hesnawi to three years in prison for “creating a terrorist organisation that threatens national security and stability”. The sentence was reduced in appeal from the original four-year sentence.
Mostafa Al-Hesnawi was summoned to appear for interrogation on 16 May 2013 and has remained in detention since then. He was sentenced in first instance on 11 July 2013. The arrest and sentencing of Mostafa Al-Hesnawi under anti-terrorism legislation appear to be directly related to his human rights activities defending the rights of Islamist detainees and the public positions he took on the matter. During the trial, he was questioned repeatedly about 'the nature of his relationship' with leaders of Islamist groups. Among the specific activities on which the sentencing was based are meetings with detainees. Front Line Defenders is concerned that visiting detainees, which Mostafa Al-Hesnawi maintains he did in the context of his legitimate human rights and journalistic work, appears to be viewed as incitement of or support to terrorism. Front Line notes with alarm that this is the second instance in less than two months where journalists have been targeted under anti-terrorism legislation.
On 17 September 2013, Mr Ali Anouzla, a human rights defender and editor of the online newspaper Lakome, was arrested in Rabat under anti-terrorism legislation. He was released on bail in 25 October 2013.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Morocco to guarantee that anti-terrorism laws are not used to silence critical or dissident views and peaceful human rights defenders.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Morocco to:
1. Quash the sentence against Mostafa Al-Hesnawi, as it is believed that it is solely motivated by his peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights;
2. Review the implementation of Anti-Terrorism legislation and take measures to ensure that it respects the right to freedom of expression and the legitimate role and work of media professionals and journalists;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Morocco are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
