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Rabat – The General Directorate of the Prison and Reintegration Administration (DGAPR) has denied that Nasser Zafzafi was the author of the letter published by his lawyer Mohamed Zian on Wednesday.
In a statement issued Thursday, the DGAPR assured that it would file a request to open an investigation about the letter allegedly written by Zafzafi and addressed to the people of the Rif, promising to inquire about the actual source of the published message.
According to the DGAPR, Zafzafi “categorically denied in a written statement all the allegations made by the lawyer mentioned [ Zian], including his claim that he received the document published on social networking.”
The commission explained that it would prevent Zian from communicating with the institution’s residents, saying that the lawyer is “not seeking to serve his client’s interests, [but in] serving an agenda aimed at fomenting sedition and fueling the situation.”
On Wednesday, Zafzafi’s lawyer published the controversial letter on social media, assuring the public that it was in fact issued by the arrested Hirak movement leader.
The five-page handwritten letter is signed with Zafzafi’s serial number “Prisoner Number: 74823.” In the letter, the purported author greets his supporters and relatives, while paying tribute to those who still pursue the social movement “in fidelity to our ancestor Emir Mohammed Ben Abdelkrim El Khattabi, may the blessing of God by upon him.
Thanking his supporters for their “civilized militancy that has been going on for more than seven months, through which they have demonstrated their sincere patriotism,” the letter continues with the alleged author insisting on his innocence and that of all Hirak detainees.
“I renew the assurance of our innocence of all the accusations against us. Charges that are only fabrication and machination, whose desperate goal is to silence the voice of freedom that has arisen since the death of the martyr Mohsine Fikri,” the letter reads.
Full of Qur’anic verses and lyrical metaphors, the letter calls on Zafzafi’s companions to respect the peaceful character of the movement. “I renew my advice for pacifism. Nothing other than pacifism as the only way for our claims to win. I advise you to reject violence, extremism and not to deviate from our legitimate demands.”
