Moroccan Journalist and Bouachrine Case Victim Dies During Childbirth

On the web, Meriem Jamal Idriss, Asmae Hallaoui’s lawyer, one of the plaintiffs in the Taoufik Bouachrine case, announced the journalist’s death on Monday. "The journalist and friend Asmae Hallaoui has passed away and left her little daughter Sofia. My sincere condolences to her family, especially her husband Ambarek Lmrabet," wrote Naima Lahrouri, another plaintiff in the Bouachrine case.

Asmae Hallaoui had filed a complaint for sexual violence and rape against the former editor-in-chief of the Arabic-language daily Akhbar Al Yaoum. According to local media, the journalist suffered from mental illness and had attempted suicide during the Bouachrine trial opened at first instance and in the Court of Cassation.

In 2018, the police had arrested Taoufik Bouachrine for human trafficking, rape and sexual assault against several women journalists who worked for Akhbar Al Yaoum. He had been sentenced to 12 years in prison in November 2018. His sentence was increased on appeal in November of the same year. He had been sentenced to 15 years in prison with a fine of 100,000 DH in damages to the victims.