Morocco Slams Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Report, Citing Bias

Denouncing RSF’s "vigorous" contempt, the government once again questions the objectivity and transparency of its reports and statements on press freedom in Morocco.

For the government, RSF "again violates" the rules of objectivity and the criteria of accuracy and transparency, by ranking Morocco in the category of "countries at risk" for the press, stressing that the organization "deliberately ignores" the climate of freedom, openness and plurality enjoyed by newspapers and the media.

According to the Ministry of Communication, "the reality of the practice of the profession, marked by organizational initiatives and measures aimed at adapting media establishments to the climate of openness, democratization and freedom guaranteed by law, as mentioned in official reports that the ministry will make public later, and which prove the existence of positive indicators testifying to respect for press and publishing freedom in Morocco."

The ministry states that all correspondents of the various national and international media as well as foreign media special envoys are exercising their profession throughout the Kingdom "in complete freedom and under normal conditions, in accordance with the legal provisions and standards governing the journalist’s profession," adding that "86 accredited correspondents in Morocco on behalf of 49 foreign media have all the authorizations issued by the competent services of the ministry."

In its report released this week, RSF ranks Morocco on a "red" list, more precisely in 135th place, estimating that it has made no effort in terms of press freedom. The organization denounced the trials of Ali Anouzla, editor-in-chief of the news site Lakome2, whose trial has been going on for more than five years, and Maati Monjib, president of the Moroccan Association for Investigative Journalism (AMJI), who has been facing justice for nearly four years.