Moroccan Press Union Expresses Concern Over Journalist’s Arrest, Calls for Ethical Reporting

According to the press release, the SNPM is closely following the case of the arrest of journalist Hajar Raissouni. Thus, after examining all the available data, the SNPM Executive Office, which met on Tuesday, September 3, expressed its deep concern.

While specifying the steps taken to collect the data relating to this file, the SNPM called on all journalists to "denounce these shameful practices that undermine the profession and the profession as a whole". It also and above all demanded that the presumption of innocence be respected as a sacred legal and human principle.

Furthermore, the SNPM Executive Office states that it has decided to appoint a lawyer to examine the content of the file and study it, in order to prepare a report, and to follow all the developments related to it, all of which will allow to deal with this case with responsibility and concern to provide all the guarantees and conditions for a fair trial.

For the record, Hajar Raissouni is a journalist for Akhbar Al Yaoum. She was arrested last Saturday, on charges of illicit sexual relations and abortion.