HIBAPRESS – Rabat
In the first sessions of the case filed by Prince Moulay Hicham against the YouTuber Reda Altaoujni, at the Court of First Instance in Rabat, the Prince made a statement to HIBAPRESS in which he defended his dignity, without neglecting to emphasize his commitment to freedom of expression as a constitutional value and a humanitarian principle, while at the same time stressing the need to regulate it with professional ethics and legal responsibility.
– "Dangerous and irresponsible" accusations. In his speech, Moulay Hicham revealed that Altaoujni's statements, which were published on YouTube on September 12th, included "dangerous accusations that cannot be ignored", including "an attempt to destabilize the monarchy", "harming the state", and "sabotaging the work of His Majesty the King." He considered that these accusations fall within the category of defamation and slander, confirming that he ignored them at first for lack of credibility and seriousness. The speaker stressed that "the discourse adopted by Altaoujni has nothing to do with tact or even the minimum of manners in public debate," stressing that respect is not given for free, but is earned through achievements, while the duty of manners remains the responsibility of everyone.
– The lawsuit under the umbrella of the press law. The Prince explained that his recourse to the judiciary was through the procedure of the press and publishing law, and not criminal prosecution, in explicit respect for the principles of human rights and freedom of expression, which he described as "socially sacred." He pointed out that the financial compensation sought in the lawsuit is not aimed at personal gain, but at creating a societal deterrent against gratuitous attacks on individuals, announcing that any compensation will be allocated to "supporting programs for teaching professional ethics."
– The essence of the case: "Where is the evidence?" At the heart of the case lies Altaoujni's claims that the Prince "transferred hundreds of millions of dollars from Morocco to America." Moulay Hicham responded to this point by saying: "If he is talking about hundreds of millions, then we are talking about a figure of no less than 300 million dollars, and where is the evidence?" He added that the timing of the statements, just two days after the publication of his interview with the Spanish newspaper "El Confidencial", reveals the absence of any documented data for Altaoujni, which makes his statements "lacking legal and media responsibility." In a satirical colloquial tone, the Prince likened Altaoujni's statements to "a big feast that people were promised, but when they arrived, we found nothing," in reference to the gap between the claims and the truth.
– Freedom of expression… a commitment, not chaos. Moulay Hicham reiterated his firm position on freedom of expression, considering it a "democratic and educational necessity," and a pillar for holding political and social actors accountable, but it does not in any case mean the permissibility of defamation, slander, and misinformation, but it must be conditioned by journalistic ethics.
– The judiciary as a space for fairness. In conclusion of his statement before the Court of First Instance in Rabat, the Prince expressed his pride in resorting to the judiciary "as an institution that protects rights, preserves dignity, and separates people with justice," stressing that "the law is a tool for calming and harmony in society," not verbal violence or media chaos.
– The sessions continue… The case sessions are expected to continue in the coming weeks, amid wide media and popular follow-up, for what it carries of symbolism about the relationship between freedom of expression and responsibility, and the limits of criticism in the public space, in the age of digitization and verbal unrestraint.
