Moroccan-French Historian’s Lawyers File Complaint Over Imprisonment and Rights Violations

"This complaint was filed in France given the French nationality of Maâti Monjib which founds the jurisdiction of the aforementioned court and aims to obtain the appointment of an investigating judge given the criminal nature of the facts denounced," the lawyers said in a statement, recalling that their client was convicted on January 27, following a hearing held on January 20 in his absence "since neither he nor his lawyers had been summoned."

"The procedure lasted five years. [...] Maâti Monjib, as well as certain members of his family, are also the subject of a second equally arbitrary procedure, by virtue of which he has been detained since December 20, 2020," the same source specifies, adding that the lawyers intend to take any initiative at the national and international level in order to promote the release of their client and the respect of his right to a fair trial, to his freedom of opinion and expression, to equal protection of the law and to respect for dignity.

William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth "indicate that they have taken the necessary steps to constitute themselves in Morocco, with their colleague making up the criminal defense team of Mr. Maâti Monjib, in particular Abderrahman Benameur and Abderrahim Jamai, former bâtonniers, Abdelaziz Nouaydi and Mohamed Messaoudi and other colleagues, and this, by virtue of the Judicial Convention between Morocco and France of January 10, 1958."

They also call on the French authorities to come to the aid of this national who has been on a hunger strike since March 4 to denounce the injustice of which he is a victim.