Moroccan Journalist’s Sexual Assault Trial Delayed Again, Sparking Controversy

Soulaimane Raissouni, editor-in-chief of the independent daily Akhbar al-Yaoum (now defunct) is on trial for "indecent assault with violence" and "sequestration". He is being prosecuted on referral from the justice system by an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) rights activist. The lawyers of the accused and his supporters demand his release after ten months of pre-trial detention in the case registered under "sexual assault". For the defense, the defendant was not "arrested in flagrante delicto. He has all the guarantees to attend his trial freely," said Me Sadqo, who does not approve of the rejection of all requests for release.

The lawyer for the plaintiff, Me Omar Alouane, says he is not opposed to this postponement. His main objective was to "prove the prejudice of his client". The journalist has never admitted the facts charged against him. In a statement, the supporters of the accused claim that the case has taken on the appearance of a "political trial". The editor-in-chief’s support committee is outraged by the "instrumentalization of justice" against "critical voices of power", demanding respect for judicial