Moroccan website editor Ali Anouzla released

29 Oct 2013

Reporters Without Borders says that it is relieved that website editor Ali Anouzla have been provisionally released after more than five weeks in detention and calls for the withdrawal of all the charges against him.

Image source: Reporters Without Borders

Anouzla was freed shortly after midday after the provisional release request filed by his lawyer, Hassan Semlali, was approved by a Rabat investigating judge two days before the deadline for issuing a ruling.

Semlali told Reporters Without Borders: "Ali should not have spent a single minute in prison. He is an independent journalist who fights constantly for human rights."

Anouzla was arrested on 17 September for posting an article that contained a link to a video posted by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

Still facing a possible sentence

He is still facing a possible sentence of 10 to 30 years in prison on charges of providing "material assistance" to a terrorist group, "defending terrorism" and "inciting the execution of terrorist acts". His next appearance before the judge has been set for 30 October.

Anouzla edits the Arabic-language version of the news website Lakome.info. Access to both Arabic and French-language versions have been blocked in Morocco since 17 October.