HIBAPRESS – Rabat
Parliamentarian Fatma Altamni, from the Federation of the Democratic Left, addressed a written question to the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, against the backdrop of a colleague on his YouTube channel publishing a video containing recordings attributed to members of the provisional committee in charge of managing the press and publishing sector.
This video sparked widespread controversy due to the data and phrases it contained, which were considered dangerous and affected the integrity of the sector's management. Altamni said that what was mentioned in the circulating recording reveals "unprecedented slippages" within a body that is supposed to guarantee transparency and respect for the law in the media sector. She added that the content of the conversation in the video suggests the existence of a "conspiracy to deprive a journalist and a media company of professional rights and public support for retaliatory reasons," in addition to implications related to "abuse of power and interference in a judicial process," as well as the use of offensive language towards the Bar Association. The MP requested that the minister clarify his ministry's position on these data, considering that they "harm the credibility of institutions and damage the human rights image of Morocco." She called for the opening of an "urgent and transparent" investigation to determine responsibilities and take the necessary legal and administrative measures. Altamni also stressed the need to take measures to protect journalists and independent media companies from any arbitrary practices or interference that would undermine freedom of the press and its independence, stressing that what these leaks revealed calls for a rapid and serious institutional response.
