He was also the victim of surveillance through Pegasus spyware. He had been arrested in July 2020 after publishing articles exposing over 100 people for corrupt land sales. Radi, an investigative journalist and one of the founders of independent outlet Le Desk, was sentenced to six years in prison in March 2022 on charges of espionage and rape.

He was sentenced to five years in prison in July 2021, and his conviction was upheld on appeal in February 2022.

Raissouni, the editor-in-chief of the now-shuttered Akhbar Al Yaoum, was arrested in May 2020 on allegations of sexual assault. The court’s decision was confirmed by the lawyer of the two journalists to Agence France-Presse.Ĭharges related to sexual assault have become a common tactic of the Moroccan government as a means of tarnishing a journalist’s reputation and limiting support from domestic and international rights groups. The Court of Cassation today upheld a six-year prison term for Radi and a five-year term for Raissouni. The IPI global network is dismayed by the decision of Morocco’s highest court rejecting the appeals of two journalists, Omar Radi and Soulaimane Raissouni, who were convicted on sexual assault charges widely considered to be politically motivated. IJ4EU (Investigative Journalism for Europe).

COVID-19: How IPI members face the challenge.

Countering Online Harassment of Journalists.

Europe: Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR).

Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellowship at IPI.

Kuwait five year plan global city