Spanish Journalist Faces Fourth Lawsuit from Morocco over Pegasus Spyware Allegations

Prosecuted in court for the fourth time by Morocco, Cembrero has asked for the kingdom’s complaint to be dismissed. "We dare to say that this is simply a legal action by which a foreign state seeks to silence a Spanish journalist," Cembrero’s lawyer said in his pleading on Friday. Morocco filed a complaint against him for accusing it of espionage using the Israeli software Pegasus, after the publication in 2021 of an investigation by the Forbidden Stories network of journalists that also accused the kingdom of spying on journalists, activists and political figures.

During his appearance in the Court of First Instance in Madrid, Cembrero denounced "continuous harassment [by Morocco] that goes beyond the judicial", noting that he had seen private photos and messages of him with Spanish personalities in Moroccan media, reports Publico. The Spanish journalist claimed to have "no proof, but solid clues" against Morocco in this Pegasus espionage case, of which Spanish President Pedro Sanchez and several Spanish ministers were also victims.

The lawyers for Morocco, Sergio Berenguer and Ernesto Díaz-Bastién, asked that the journalist retract and that the legal costs be imposed on him, noting that the journalist’s status is not taken into account and that freedom of expression is not at issue. These are the statements of a presumed victim of espionage, as indicated in a police report, that are considered, they specified. For his part, Cembrero’s lawyer, Javier Sánchez, denounces an attempt by Morocco to "silence" the journalist.

"I am a victim of harassment by the Moroccan authorities since 2014 and of constant and systematic insults from the authorities and the press of the neighboring country," the journalist said, stressing that these legal proceedings have harmed him professionally, with many sources having stopped providing him with information. Morocco had already accused the journalist twice of terrorism apology. The proceedings are pending. He was acquitted for a third accusation by a businessman linked to the Moroccan intelligence services who accused him of damaging his honor.