Republican Opposition Figure deported from Canada to Morocco

#Morocco #Canada #MohamedHichamBennouhoud #deportation

Human Rights–Political Statement on the Deportation of the Moroccan Republican Opposition Figure, Mohamed Hicham Bennouhoud, from Canada to Morocco

Public Statement

Public opinion has received with deep concern the news of the deportation of the Moroccan republican opposition figure Mohamed Hicham Bennouhoud, a political asylum seeker, by the Canadian authorities, and his handover to a state whose human rights record is known for grave and systematic violations against political opponents.

From a human rights and legal perspective, this decision constitutes a serious violation of the principle of non-refoulement, as explicitly stipulated in:

-The 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees,
-The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
-The Convention Against Torture.

The principle of non-refoulement is the cornerstone of the refugee protection system. It strictly prohibits the return of any person to a country where they may face the risk of persecution, arbitrary detention, torture, or inhuman or degrading treatment due to their political opinions or peaceful activity.

The handing over of a Moroccan republican opponent to the Moroccan authorities, in light of the well-documented systematic repression of all those who call for the end of the monarchy or radically criticize it, raises serious questions about the extent of Canada’s respect for its international commitments, and undermines confidence in the asylum system as a mechanism of protection rather than an instrument of political liquidation.

This statement does not fall within the framework of political posturing or hostile rhetoric, but rather represents a principled human rights position that calls for:

-Holding the Canadian decision accountable from the perspective of international law,
-Opening an independent investigation into the circumstances of the deportation,
-Ensuring that such violations against political asylum seekers are not repeated.

The protection of freedom of expression and peaceful political opposition is not a matter of internal sovereignty, but an international obligation that does not tolerate selectivity. Any breach of this obligation endangers lives and opens the door to the legitimization of transnational repression.

Solidarity with victims of forced deportation is a defense of the very essence of the human rights system, not an attack on any specific state.

By Qandyl Mohamed – Blogger, human rights activist, and independent Moroccan political critic