Rabat – Amid the wave of hostility and smearing campaigns Morocco has been facing from many Members of the European Parliament(MEPs) over the supposed deterioration of the human rights situation in the country, French politician and MEP Thierry Mariani has strongly denounced the MEPS’ “biased” stance and unjustified attacks.
Speaking at a plenary session of the European Parliament, Mariani pointed out MEPs’ double standards, explaining that they do not miss any chance to attack Morocco while turning a blind eye to Algeria.
“We gather here today to condemn the practices of a country that curtails human rights and oppresses dissenting voices and participates in the destabilization of Africa … So that would mean that we are talking about Algeria,” he said.
In addition, Mariani accused the European Left of never condemning Algeria for its practices and the European Union of handing over everything to the country in hopes of getting access to its gas.
“Instead, we debate about Morocco, which is one of the cornerstones of our strategic partnership in Africa,” he stressed.
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The French MEP was particularly referring to the resolution that the European Parliament voted on last Thursday regarding the situation of journalists in Morocco, notably the case of Omar Radi. The journalist was arrested in 2020 after his female colleague Hafsa Boutahar accused him of rape.
Around 356 MEPs voted in favor of the resolution, which accuses Morocco of “harassing and intimidating journalists, human rights defenders, and diaspora activities.” Meanwhile, 32 voted against the resolution, whereas about 42 abstained from voting.
Of the Omar Radi case, the French MEP said that he does not consider the decisions of the Moroccan justice system any less credible or just compared to those of Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch.
He gave the example of the recent controversy that Brussels-based NGO Fight Impunity has been involved in relation to the Qatar corruption scandal. Mariani argued that the people should rethink the credibility they give NGOs, saying: “Like states, they have their interests and their limits.”
He concluded: “If Mr. Radi is the victim of a conspiracy, it is up to his lawyers and the Moroccan people to prove it and it is not up to the European Parliament to wipe its feet on Moroccan justice.”
