Target: Mohamed Abdennabaoui, President of the Prosecutor General’s Office, Morocco
Goal: Praise release of journalist jailed for exercising free speech.
Journalist Omar Radi, jailed at the end of 2019 for speaking out against a Moroccan judge’s treatment of the Hirak Rif protesters, has been released from jail. This is a victory for advocates of free speech the world over.
Radi spoke out against an appeals court judge in frustration when the judge upheld a harsh sentence for leaders of protesters in the Rif region, who had been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. A veteran reporter on politics and corruption, Radi vented his anger on Twitter, only to be arrested months later for the supposed offense of “insulting a magistrate.”
Although Radi has only been temporarily released until his next court date in March on health grounds, it’s clear that the justice system bowed to pressure from thousands of his fellow Moroccans, the international activist community, and those who signed this petition.
Sign this letter to congratulate the president of the Moroccan Prosecutor General’s Office for seeing sense and releasing Mr. Radi.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. Abdennabaoui,
Your decision to release Omar Radi from his unfair imprisonment is a great act of compassion. Mr. Radi was unjustly jailed for exercising his fundamental human right to criticize injustice, and suffers from a form of asthma which could have endangered his life had he been kept in captivity.
I can only hope that you and your government will continue to show compassion and reason in the coming months as Mr. Radi prepares for his trial.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Lamyaachary
It’s nice to hear some hopeful news for a change. Hopefully his release and freedom will be permanent especially since he did nothing wrong.