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The Spanish government has reiterated its rejection of accusations linking Morocco to the use of spyware Pegasus against Spanish officials.
Oscar Lopez, the director of Spain’s Presidency Office described the accusation as a “ hoax, and slander” as well as a “conspiracy theory.”
Lopez made his remarks during his appearance at the Joint Committee on National Security in Congress.
Lopez’s remarks came in the wake of questions and claims by Spanish politicians known for their anti-Morocco position.
In response, Lopez stressed that he felt “surprised” that certain politicians slipped in “certain suspicions and conspiracy theories” typical of the “extreme right.”
The Spanish minister stressed that the government has launched necessary procedures as soon as the cabinet became aware of the alleged Pegasus use against Spanish officials like Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
He said that security services were informed about the case with transparency.
“The National Court closed the case in which espionage with Israeli software was investigated due to the ‘absolute’ lack of legal cooperation from the Jewish state,” Europa Press quoted the Spanish official as saying.
The Pegasus allegations came to light in 2021 after NGOs like Amnesty International and Forbidden Stories accused Morocco of using Pegasus spyware to spy on activists, journalists, and foreign officials.
Morocco’s government has frequently called on the NGOs to provide evidence to back their claims.
The NGO and its media consortium failed to present evidence proving Morocco’s alleged involvement in the use of the spyware.
Despite the manifest lack of evidence supporting the Pegasus allegations targeting Morocco, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have been engaged in hostile campaigns against the North African country
This is not the first time Spain has denied accusations made by NGOs and politicians against Morocco.
The 2023 Annual National Security Report also contradicted claims made by hostile parties to Morocco that frequently accuse Rabat of allegedly being involved in espionage activities targeting Spanish officials.
The report makes no reference to Morocco in its “espionage section,” challenging allegations of Morocco’s involvement in using Pegasus spyware against activists, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and other officials during the 2021 crisis between Rabat and Madrid.
