In the last three days Morocco has been seen using Anti-Terrorism laws against human rights defenders and journalists exercising their freedom of expression. The following two cases come from Frontline:
On 28 October the Rabat appeals court sentenced journalist and human rights defender Mr Mostafa Al-Hesnawi to three years in prison for “creating a terrorist organisation that threatens national security and stability”. Mostafa Al-Hesnawi is a blogger, a journalist for the Moroccan newspaper Al Sabeel and is a member of Al Karama Forum for human rights. He has been a vocal opponent of the anti-terrorism legislation and its use against individuals not involved in terrorist activities.
On 30 October 2013, human rights defender and journalist, Mr Ali Anouzla, appeared before the court to answer a charge of abetting terrorism, which carries a maximum sentence of twenty years’ imprisonment. An investigating judge briefly interrogated him behind closed door, before adjourning the hearing to 23 December 2013. Ali Anouzla is Editor of the online newspaper Lakome, a Rabat-based independent newspaper focusing on civil liberties and human rights. Ali Anouzla’s articles often highlights human rights violations in Morocco and the Western Sahara territories. Ali Anouzla’s supporters expressed the concern that the trial may be intentionally postposed repeatedly.
[On 14 September 2013, Lakome published an article about a video made by the Islamic Maghreb branch of Al Qaeda. The Arabic version of the site posted a link to the video. Lakome included a disclaimer that it was a propaganda video, published for journalistic reasons. Ali Anouzla was arrested three days later, on 17 September 2013. He was released on bail on 24 October.] See also: Urgent Appeal: http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/23814.
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
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