Moroccan Journalists on Hunger Strike as Families Fear for Their Health

Implicated in cases of morals and violence, Omar Radi, a committed human rights activist, and Soulaimane Raissouni, editor-in-chief of the defunct newspaper Akhbar al-Yaoum, have been in detention for several months, although they deny the facts they are accused of. The two journalists then began a hunger strike to demand a provisional release that is struggling to be granted, reports AFP, noting that the situation is beginning to worry the relatives of the two detainees.

Soulaimane Raissouni has already lost 22 kilos and his condition is deteriorating further, worries his wife, Khouloud Mokhtari. Since "Soulaimane has always had health problems and given the hunger strike he has been on for 16 days now, I don’t know if he is still taking his medication. The news that worried us was the latest diagnosis from the prison doctors that Souleimane has potassium and calcium problems. In addition, Souleimane was not leaving his cell before he even started the hunger strike," she is concerned.

As for Omar Radi, "he has a very serious illness, he had acute diarrhea during his incarceration, so I don’t know if he will hold up." Thus, "as families, we are very worried. I don’t know who to turn to, but I always have this demand that I never stop saying and declaring in front of everyone: Souleimane and Omar must be released. They are risking their lives now!" she exclaimed.