Soulaimane Raissouni

Soulaimane Raissouni (Arabic: سليمان الريسوني) (born 5 June 1972) is a Moroccan journalist, editorialist, and human rights activist. He was working as the chief editor of the newspaper Akhbar Al Yaoum,[1] being notable for his editorials, criticizing government corruption and advocating political reform.[2] On May 22, 2020, Raissouni was arrested over charges of “indecent assault” against another man.[3] His arrest triggered a movement of solidarity among his sympathizers, both in Morocco and internationally, alleging that his case is part of a defamation campaign targeting journalists and rights activists critical of Moroccan authorities.[4]

Soulaimane Raissouni
سليمان الريسوني
Born (1972-06-05) 5 June 1972
Ksar el-Kebir, Morocco
OccupationJournalist
FamilyAhmad al-Raysuni (brother)
Hajar Raissouni (niece)

After almost a year of imprisonment without a trial (being constantly postponed), Soulaimane Raissouni started on April 8, 2021, together with another detained journalist, Omar Radi, a hunger strike to press their demands to be freed.[5] and obtain either "freedom, justice or death"[6]

Soulaimane Raissouni is the brother of Ahmad al-Raysuni, and the uncle of Hajar Raissouni.[7]

Arrest and Hunger Strike

On 22 May 2020, Soulaimane Raissouni was arrested after allegations published by a young man on Facebook, claiming that Raissouni committed indecent assault with violence and confinement against him in 2018.[8] The identity of the young man is not known, and no proofs were presented together with the plaint.

Since that date, the trial date has been constantly postponed, while Raissouni remained detained. This common practice, consisting of the increasing use of pre-trial detention is described by many Moroccan rights groups as a human rights violation.[9] On 8 April 2021, Raissouni decided to start a hunger strike to protest this situation. Although his health status is deteriorating, the journalist refuses to halt the strike. Several journalists, friends, colleagues, family members, and human rights activists have called for the judiciary to consider his situation.

On 24 May 2021 Mayssa Salama Ennaji, a Moroccan journalist, shared a photo of a traditional cloth used for burials in Islam, saying that Raissouni's wife bought it for him in case he dies due to this hunger strike.[10]

On 9 July 2021, Moroccan justice sentenced Soulaimane Raissouni to five years in prison for “sexual assault”.

See also

References
  1. A Victim Not Only of Unjust Laws, but of ‘Unjust Authorities’ - The New York Times (2019)
  2. Opinion: Morocco’s jailed journalists deserve the Biden administration’s attention - Editorial Board - The Washington Post(2021)
  3. Soulaimane Raissouni Remains Behind Bars for Alleged Indecent Assault - Morocco World News (2020)
  4. Moroccan journalist Omar Radi breaks hunger strike due to ill health - France 24 (2021)
  5. Hunger Strike Announced by Detainees Soulaimane Raissouni and Omar Radi 'Has No Connection with Conditions of Detention' - DGAPR Maghreb Arab Press (2021)
  6. Hunger strike is last resort for some imprisoned Moroccan journalists - Reporters Sans Frontieres (2021)
  7. Moroccan Journalist on Trial for an Abortion She Says She Never Had - The New York Times (2019)
  8. Moroccan editor in pre-trial detention over sex claim - The New Arab (2020)
  9. Morocco police halt protest in support of jailed activists - Reuters (2021)
  10. Morocco’s Prison Authority: Soulaiman Raissouni Health Status Is ‘Normal’ - Morocco World News (2021)
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