Said Ait Mahdi, a Moroccan activist, was sentenced to three months in prison for defamation after criticizing the government’s response to the 2023 earthquake that devastated El Haouz province. Ait Mahdi’s advocacy group seeks to accelerate aid and reconstruction efforts for affected families. While he plans to appeal, the case raises critical questions about freedom of expression in Morocco.
On Monday, Said Ait Mahdi, a Moroccan activist advocating for earthquake victims, was sentenced to three months imprisonment for defamation. He has been detained since December 23 and faced charges stemming from his critical social media posts regarding the government’s earthquake response. Alongside him, three other members of his advocacy group faced similar charges but were acquitted. Ait Mahdi was condemned by the Court of First Instance in Marrakech, which mandated him to pay damages totaling 10,000 dirhams ($1,000) to each civil party involved in the complaint. His defense team views the case as an infringement on his freedom of expression, arguing it was motivated by complaints from local officials who deemed the posts offensive.
In September 2023, Morocco experienced a catastrophic 6.8 magnitude earthquake that severely affected the El Haouz province, resulting in the loss of nearly 3,000 lives and injuring 5,600 individuals. The disaster left approximately 60,000 homes destroyed, forcing many families to endure harsh winter conditions in makeshift tent shelters. Activists like Ait Mahdi have sought to expedite reconstruction efforts and increase aid for the victims. The Moroccan government has since initiated an $11 billion reconstruction plan over five years for the afflicted provinces, claiming significant progress in rebuilding efforts.
The imprisonment of Said Ait Mahdi underscores ongoing tensions between government authority and citizens’ rights to criticize official responses to disasters. His case raises concerns regarding freedom of expression in Morocco, particularly for those advocating on behalf of vulnerable populations. As Ait Mahdi plans to appeal the ruling, the continuation of his campaign for reconstruction and aid highlights the persistent challenges faced by earthquake victims in the region.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
