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| Banning of three weekly newspapers in Morocco | Date: 13-12-2000 |
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Open letter to the Moroccan Prime Minister about the banning of three Moroccan weekly papers, 13.12.2000 Dear Mr Prime Minister, The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network and its Executive Committee would respectfully like to draw your attention to our concerns about the banning of the weekly papers « Le journal », « ASSAHIFA » and « DEMAIN » This ban, which is legal in character, is not in keeping with previous legal guarantees. It breaches a fundamental liberty that is guaranteed by the International Pact relating to civil and political rights, which the State of Morocco is party to; it also breaches the Association Agreement Morocco has signed with the EU, which came into effect on 1st March, 2000. Moreover, it constitutes a backward step in terms of the positive advances that have been made in the human rights situation during the past decade, which our Network emphasised in the report it presented at the beginning of December at the Association Council meeting. Our organisation, composed of 42 national associations active in most countries in the region, was founded in December 1997 to help promote the human rights dimension of the Euro-Mediterrranean Partnership. To this end, it has placed great importance on dialogue with the European institutions and partner governments, and has effectively outlined a dialogue with Jordan, Egypt, and Syria as well as with the principal European States. Wishing to develop and strengthen our relations, we hope to embark upon a fruitful dialogue with your government. In the meantime, the EMHRN asks you to revoke the ban on the three aforementioned weekly papers. Mr Prime Minister, please accept our very best wishes, Yours faithfully, President of the Network Abdelaziz BENNANI |
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