The Central Bureau of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights expresses its solidarity with the blogger Mohamed Erraji
and disapproves the unjust sentence pronounced against him and claims his relaxation

The young Erraji Mohamed, a Moroccan blogger, was arrested on Friday 05 September 2008, following its publication of an article entitled "King of Morocco encourages people to adopt the culture of welfare". His family hasn't been notified of his arrest until his transfer to prison through the telephone call from a prisoner. Furthermore, he was presented in court on Monday, September 08, without allowing him to be assisted by a lawyer to be sentenced at a speed record just over a few minutes, to two years' imprisonment and a fine of 5000 dirhams for "failure to respect due to the king", an accusation among those listed in the register of committing an outrage to the sacred values.
After reading the article in question and the report of the section of Chtouka-Aït Baha, the region of Mohmed Erraji residence, the Central Bureau considers that:
- The arrest of Mohamed Erraji is an arbitrary arrest and a serious violation of the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
- The conditions in which Mohamed Erraji trial took place confirm non-compliance with the conditions and guarantees necessary for a fair trial.
- This trial is, again, a catastrophic illustration of Justice in Morocco and another ridiculous trial in addition to records of trials of opinion by invoking outrage to the sacred values.
The Central Bureau states the following:
-- His solidarity with Mohamed Erraji as a detainee of opinion by claiming his immediate and unconditional release.
-- His condemnation of the unjust and harsh sentence pronounced against him in the trial unfair violating the rights of the accused in a flagrant manner.
-- His claim to put an end to the prosecution, the trial for crimes of opinion and the release of all political detainees.
-- His claim for a real reform of the judiciary to guarantee its independence, probity and competence which requires its recognition as independent power under a democratic constitution so that it plays its role in protecting citizens against injustice. And that it mustn't be an instrument legalizing the arbitrary practices of the State.
The Central Bureau of the Association calls on all democrats and defenders of freedom of opinion and the press for mobilization in the framework of solidarity with the young Mohamed Erraji and claims his release and appealed to lawyers among them for his support when he will be presented to the court of appeal.
The Central Bureau
September 10, 2008