CFWIJ demands immediate release of jailed Moroccan journalist Hajar Raissouni

MOROCCO, Rabat, October 2 — The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the year-long jail sentence of Moroccan journalist, Hajar Raissouni. We demand her immediate release.

Hajar received the sentence on September 30, 2019. She has been languishing in prison after being arrested outside a clinic in Rabat on August 31, 2019. Hajar — who works for Akhbar al-Yaoum, an independent Moroccan daily newspaper — has been charged for 'premarital sex and illegal abortion'.

We urge the judiciary to revisit their decision, as Hajar has been wrongfully accused of a crime she has not committed. After her arrest, she denied all the charges pressed against her. Through a letter written from jail, Hajar refuted all the allegations and shared that she visited the clinic for the removal of a blood clot. The journalist believes that the case has been fabricated to damage her reputation as a journalist and is motivated by her work criticizing the government.

We demand that Moroccan authorities immediately release our colleague and withdraw all the unjustified charges against her. CFWIJ is also appalled at the treatment Hajar has been receiving since her arrest, considering that all of her requests for provisional release were previously rejected. She has suffered immensely after being detained along with other accused, which also includes her fiancé, Rifaat alAmin, who has been sentenced to one year in jail for complicity in her crimes. The couple was about to get married a few weeks after they were arrested.

The doctor — Dr. Jamal Belkeziz — who treated Hajar at the clinic, has been sentenced for two years in prison. His two aides were found guilty of complicity, but received suspended sentences by the court.It is not the job of the state to meddle in an individual’s personal life. In fact, it is a violation of basic human rights and the CFWIJ demands strict action to be taken against those who have wrongfully accused our fellow journalist.

In the past few weeks since detention, the 28-year-old has gone through immense trauma following the trial. The court kept postponing the hearing of her trail and has eventually sentenced her to one year in prison.

Considering Hajar’s medical condition, for which she received treatment at the clinic, we call the Moroccan authorities to release our colleague on an immediate basis. Several protests have been held by human rights activists in support of the journalist in the Moroccan city of Rabat, and the CFWIJ also stands in solidarity with Hajar in this difficult time.

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The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world, and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ.

Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org