“The royal pardon stands out for its human character and was received with deep gratitude by the families of the pardoned”believed Hicham Mellati, director of criminal affairs at the Ministry of Justice. And the pardoned? formerly involved in serious criminal cases; today they have become civil parties before the Belgian courts, considering that “Alleged interference and corruption in the European Parliament have hampered the conviction of Morocco over its alleged human rights violations.” End of quote. Among these “criminals” include Omar Radi, convicted in 2022 for endangering state security and rape, as well as Soulaiman Raissouni, pardoned after a judicial sentence in 2022 for accusations of rape and kidnapping.
A group with controversial judicial and political trajectories
These individuals are represented by lawyers Mohamed Jaite and Delphine Paci, who filed the civil party constitutions before the indictment chamber in Brussels. And the real facts? Morocco has firmly rejected any involvement in corruption scandals in the European Parliament, notably “Qatagate”. No evidence has been provided to establish any connection between these scandals and Rabat. The Moroccan authorities recall that their policy is based on transparency and respect for human rights.
Let us say it clearly: the criticisms made by this group are above all motivated by political and personal interests. The Belgian investigation opened in 2022 focuses on “suspicions of interference and corruption within the European Parliament.” Lawyers for the civil parties requested that the proceedings before the indictment chamber, scheduled for January 7, be made public, although these discussions are usually held behind closed doors.
Deja vu
In March 2023, a coalition of self-proclaimed activists announced their intention to join the legal action against the Israeli company NSO, owner of the Pegasus software. Among them are Fouad Abdelmoumni, Abdellatif El Hamamouchi and Hicham Mansouri as well as Khouloud Mokhtari, wife of Soulaiman Raïssouni, Ali Reda Ziane, son of Mohamed Ziane and Omar Brouksy.
A word, at least, on the European Parliament’s remote resolution of 2023 on press freedom in Morocco? This text, on the other hand, was an absolute scandal, to the point that Paris indicated that it “does not commit France”according to its ambassador in Morocco. “The French government cannot be held responsible for MEPs», insisted Christophe Lecourtier.
The document – non-binding and which was pushed by elements openly hostile to Morocco – also reported the involvement, never demonstrated, of Rabat in the corruption affair which is shaking the European Parliament. Fouad Abdelmoumni, one of the elements cited in the two anti-Moroccan attempts before foreign courts, is currently the subject of an investigation for “spreading false information” linked to a publication where he criticizes the“involvement of Morocco in the espionage of France ». Fouad Abdelmoumni, 66, whose reputation has been tarnished by sexual and economic escapades, is suspected of having “reported a notoriously fictitious crime of which he knows does not exist” and to have “disseminated a lot of false information”indicated the public prosecutor, cited by the Moroccan agency MAP. His trial will resume on December 30.
