Moroccan Journalist Ends 122-Day Hunger Strike After Health Warning

The news was made public by the journalist’s lawyer last Monday. "He informed us today that he had stopped his hunger strike on Saturday after his hospitalization, in response to the appeals of his supporters on the national and international level," Me Mohamed Messaoudi told AFP. According to his remarks, the prison doctor "informed him that his health was in danger and that he had only two choices: stop the hunger strike or die."

A few days ago, the 49-year-old journalist had requested to be hospitalized to end his hunger strike. In a statement in response to this request, the prison administration assured that he "refused to go to the hospital."

Accused of blackmailing with the hunger strike, Soulaimane Raissouni has always claimed the opposite. "I have never tried to blackmail anyone to get me released. I only demanded a fair trial that would inevitably acquit me," the journalist said in his defense on Monday.

While several national and international NGOs, as well as Moroccan personalities and political parties, called for his release, the Moroccan authorities, for their part, say they respect the independence of the judiciary and the conformity of the procedures.