Maati Monjib

Maati Monjib (Arabic: المعطي منجب, born 6 March 1962) is a Moroccan university professor, journalist, historian, writer and political activist. Monjib holds two PhDs, one from France in North African politics and another from Senegal on African political history.[1] Monjib is known in Morocco for supporting Moroccan investigative journalism. He has criticized the monarchy in columns in the foreign press in the past and once ran a center that held meetings that included opposition groups.[2]

Maati Monjib
المعطي منجب
Maati Monjib at 2017 Freedom of Expression Awards
Born (1962-03-06) 6 March 1962
Benslimane, Morocco
NationalityMoroccan
Occupation(s)Historian
Journalist
University Professor
Writer
Political activist
Known forPolitical activism

In 2015, Monjib was brought to justice along with six other journalists and activists in Morocco, and charged with "threatening national security", before being banned from traveling outside the country, in a case that was widely criticised by human rights groups and was considered as politically motivated.[3] Since then, the trial has been postponed 15 times.[4]

On 29 December 2020, Monjib was arrested in Rabat for "money laundering and fraud".[5] The accusations from the Moroccan authorities claimed misuse of funds he received from international NGOs, even if the latter never expressed any doubt as to how the funds were used.[6] After a hunger strike, he was granted conditional release on 23 March 2021.[7] Several international groups and organizations contested and campaigned against the "harassment" Monjib faced, including the Committee to Protect Journalists,[8] Amnesty International,[9] and the European Parliament.[10]

Books

Among the books written by Maati Monjib are the following:

  • The Moroccan Monarchy and the Struggle for Power (Paris: L’Harmattan, 1992)
  • A Political Biography of Mehdi Ben Barka with Zakya Daoud (Paris: Editions Michalon, 1996–2000)
  • Islamists Versus Secularists in Morocco (Amsterdam: IKV, 2009).

References
  1. "Maâti Monjib". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  2. "Moroccan intellectual suspends hunger strike, faces charges: lawyer". Reuters. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  3. "Journalists and activists stand trial in Morocco". The Guardian. Associated Press. 19 November 2015. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  4. "Case History: Maâti Monjib". Front Line Defenders. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  5. Stangler, Cole; El Hamamouchi, Abdellatif (21 October 2021). "Morocco's Intelligence Apparatus Fuels a Crackdown on Dissent". The Intercept. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  6. "Academic Maati Monjib sentenced to one year in prison following a trial tainted with irregularities". MENA Rights Group. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  7. "Morocco's Maati Monjib back in court tomorrow". Reporters Without Borders. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  8. Crouch, Erik (28 January 2021). "Moroccan journalist Maati Monjib sentenced to 1 year in prison". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  9. "URGENT ACTION - Imprisoned Academic's Life in Danger" (PDF). Amnesty International. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  10. Strik, Tineke. "Parliamentary question | The arrest of Maati Monjib by the Moroccan authorities | E-000652/2021". European Parliament. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
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