Moroccan Soldiers Jailed for Social Media Criticism of Military Leadership and Government

It is the military court of Rabat that is behind this conviction of four soldiers to 5 months in prison each. According to Assabah, they would have undermined the army and important officers as well as the Ministry of National Education, and therefore the government. At issue are publications of photos and comments on social networks.

These four military personnel would, according to the same source, hold highly sensitive positions in southern Morocco, within the Royal Armed Forces (FAR). Following the publication of these photos and comments, they were arrested and questioned by the FAR, still in the southern zone, before being transferred to Rabat to be tried before the military court.

The said court concluded that the sharing of these publications is a disobedience to the military rules of conduct which require respect for superior officers. The defense of these four soldiers, on the other hand, claimed that they were victims of "Photoshop tampering". The latter intends to appeal this decision.

A fifth soldier will also be tried before the military court (his trial has been postponed) on the same charges. He is currently detained in the Salé prison.