Rabat – Moroccan journalist Abdessamad Nacir has received overwhelming support and solidarity from both Moroccan citizens and fellow journalists following his recent dismissal from Al Jazeera.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Moroccan Press Union said it had carried out an investigation which revealed that Al Jazeera’s decision to “forcibly” and “unilaterally” dismiss Nacir was influenced by a tweet he posted in defense of Moroccan women.
The tweet came in response to baseless allegations made by Algeria’s official media, accusing Morocco of “trafficking its women’s honor,” explained the statement.
“After posting his tweet, the news director of the Al Jazeera channel called him and asked him to delete the tweet. Abdessamad’s answer was a no, because the matter is part of freedom of expression on a platform that does not belong to the network,” it added.
Despite being asked by both the news director and the general manager of Al Jazeera to delete the tweet, the Moroccan journalist stood firm, arguing that he had exercised his natural right to express his opinion in an environment that “does not concern the Qatari Al Jazeera channel.”
The union also raised concerns about Al Jazeera’s inconsistent treatment of other journalists who had repeatedly made derogatory remarks about Morocco and its institutions.
The union particularly pointed to the case of Hafid Derradji, an Algerian sports commentator working with beIN Sports, who over the years has repeatedly made hostile remarks about Morocco.
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The Moroccan public, along with fellow journalists, has rallied behind Nacir, taking to social media platforms to denounce his dismissal by Al Jazeera.
Nacir’s supporters swiftly mobilized on Twitter to show their unwavering support for the journalist, echoing the Moroccan press union’s remarks.
Twitter hashtags such as #WeStandWithNacir, #SupportAbdessamadNacir, and #BoycottAlJazeera began trending as hundreds of users demanded justice for the dismissed journalist.
Commenting on Nacir’s dismissal, Qatari journalist Khaled Bin Dahem tweeted that Al Jazeera “lost once again one of its most prominent stars of the Arab media.” He referred to other renowned journalists that the network has dismissed in recent years.
Naama Maoulainine, a journalist at Moroccan channel Medi1TV, also took to Twitter to express his solidarity with Nacir and praise him for standing his ground and defending the dignity of his country.
Through the online campaign, individuals highlighted the importance of protecting journalists’ rights to express their opinions freely without fear of retribution.
In addition, it highlighted the need for accountability with news organizations.
