Rabat- The President of the Prosecutor General’s Office, Mohammed Abdennabaoui, has said that those who criticize the sentences given to the Hirak Rif activists should reconsider their views.
In interviews with radio channel and news site Med Radio, Abdennabaoui refused to comment on the sentences deemed “heavy” by prominent Moroccan citizens. He said that no one should have a say in the sentences because “the court already made its assessments, and has the mechanics by which it makes these assessments.”
Abdennabaoui stressed that the decision was reasonable and built on proven facts.
He added, “When the court says that the judgement was based on the decision of the public prosecution and that the public prosecution’s decision was correct, why would one keep blaming the public prosecution?”
Arguments about a case should only be considered acceptable before the court rules its judgement, he said. “Arguments about a legal judgement should not take place in the streets but inside the court.”
Abdennabaoui pointed out that the 20-year sentences delivered to four activists should not be seen as “heavy” when similar crimes would have warranted the capital punishment: “The court did not rule such judgment, however ruled a less severe punishment.”
He concluded that “it is not the judge who chooses the punishment, it’s the law.”
Prosecuting lawyer of the bar of Casablanca Abdelkebir Tabih has said that the trial of the activists was fair as well.
On the other hand, the French Foreign Affairs Ministry criticized the verdict, emphasizing that the French government “is committed to respect public freedoms.”
On Tuesday, June 26, Casablanca’s Court of Appeals sentenced Hirak leaders Nasser Zefzafi and Nabil Ahemjik, as well as activists Ouassim El Boustati and Samir Ghid, to 20 years in prison.
Zakaria Adehchour, Mohamed Haki, and Mohamed Bouhenouch received 15 years in jail, whereas Mohamed Jelloul, Karim Amghar, Salah Lackham, Omar Bouharass, Bilal Ahaddad, Jamal Bouhaddou, and Achraf Yakhloufi were sentenced to 10 years; other activists 1 to 5 years.
Hirak activists were held for over a year, awaiting trial and verdict.
The court’s decision resulted in nationwide controversy and protests calling for the release of the individuals.
Demonstrations took place on Wednesday in the capital of the Rif region, Nador; near the Parliament in Rabat; and on Boulevard El Oumame Al Moutahida in Casablanca. Meknes saw a protest on Friday.
