Many human rights defenders in Morocco denounced the content of the recording leaked by the journalist Hamid El Mahdaoui, insisting that 'the dangerous recording reveals how the fierce war against all independent journalists was managed, in exchange for absolute empowerment of a press of triviality and defamation.
Tags : Hamid El Mahdaoui, Morocco, press, human rights, Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Issues Committee, Provisional Committee for Managing the Affairs of the Press and Publishing, video leaked,
Rabat – The scandal surrounding the leaked recording of a government committee meeting on media affairs concerning a journalist who opposes the Makhzen’s policies has caused shock among many media, political, and human rights bodies, which have issued strongly worded condemnation statements. Meanwhile, dozens of journalists have demanded the dissolution of this committee, which exposed how the country is run and how corruption is rampant.
The leaked audio and video recording of the « meeting of the Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Issues Committee, affiliated with the Provisional Committee for Managing the Affairs of the Press and Publishing Sector in Morocco, » contained « insulting and degrading » remarks against the journalist Hamid El Mahdaoui by the members, as well as « dangerous » insinuations about using the judiciary to settle scores with opponents.
Moroccan bodies, alongside social media users, denounced this « ethical and legal scandal » and the « series of restrictions and conspiracies » targeting independent journalists, considering what was revealed in the latest leaks to be an « unprecedented slide within an institution that is supposed to protect press freedom and safeguard journalists’ rights. »
Positions of Various Bodies
The National Syndicate of the Moroccan Press (SNPM), in a statement, described the content of the recordings as « dangerous data » that harms the dignity of individuals and institutions and constitutes a « violation of the spirit of self-regulation and the independence of the sector. » It affirmed that the circulated contents reflect « irresponsible » and « reckless » behavior, demanding an urgent and impartial investigation to reveal the full details contained in the recordings and accurately determine responsibilities.
The National Federation for Press, Media, and Communication also condemned « the content of the recordings, » describing what happened as a « professional and ethical scandal that has shaken professional and human rights public opinion. »
More than one hundred Moroccan journalists issued a strongly worded statement denouncing these « extremely serious practices. »
For their part, the Association of Morocco’s Bar Associations and the Federation of Young Lawyers’ Associations denounced the content of the recordings, emphasizing that « the dignity of the defense is a red line » and that any abuse against lawyers is « an assault on justice as a whole. » They also confirmed that the leaks go beyond a mere « verbal lapse, » describing them as having « exposed a hostile and vindictive mentality toward lawyers, » and considering them « evidence of a serious disregard for the constitutional role of the defense in protecting rights and freedoms. »
The Justice and Development Party (PJD) expressed, in a statement, its deep regret over « the abusive language, the violation of the law, and the extremely serious bias that circulated during this meeting, which reveals a meeting with a vengeful background, not a meeting within the framework of press self-regulation. » It stressed that the leaks affect « the reputation and independence of the judicial institution and the reputation and independence of a committee that is supposed to be responsible for press self-regulation. »
Scandal Reaches Parliament and the Streets
The scandal extended to Parliament, where several deputies, including Fatima Tamni (Federation of the Democratic Left), Nadia Touhami (Party of Progress and Socialism), and member of the House of Councillors Khalid Setti, addressed questions to the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, regarding « the urgent measures planned to be taken to investigate the contents of these recordings. »
In this context, the Youth Movement, which organized massive protests across Morocco in late September that lasted for weeks, affirmed in a statement that « the equation has become exposed: a small few control the ‘surveillance power’ (the media) and create the suitable atmosphere for the monster of corruption to destroy everything, far from the eyes of the citizens, » adding: « When the ‘guardians of the Fourth Estate’ turn into tools of control, the last wall protecting public funds collapses. »
The President of the Moroccan Observatory Against Normalization, Ahmed Wehman, confirmed, in a statement, that the leaked video was « neither a passing event nor a slip of the tongue limited to the degradation of discourse or the fall of professional ethics, but a complete political and judicial shock, because it exposed—for the first time in audio and video—a terrifying logic by which justice is administered in this country. »
Many human rights activists also condemned the content of the leaked recording in their articles, emphasizing that « the dangerous recording reveals how the fierce war against all independent journalists was managed, in exchange for absolute empowerment of the press of triviality and defamation. »
They demanded the rehabilitation of everyone who was a victim of the Makhzen system, such as Mohamed Ziane, Taoufik Bouachrine, Fouad Abdelmoumni, Nasser Zefzafi, Soulaimane Raissouni, and Afaf Bernani.
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