HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
A Moroccan human rights organization, "The Moroccan League for Citizenship and Human Rights," expressed its deep concern regarding what followed one of the quarter-final matches of the African Cup of Nations, which brought together the Algerian national team and its Nigerian counterpart on the grounds of the Grand Stadium in Marrakech, considering that the reactions that followed the match went beyond the sporting framework and took dimensions that do not serve the values of competition nor the relations between peoples.
The organization explained, in a statement received by the media, that the result of a normal football match was used by some Algerian media outlets and social media sites, and by groups of the public, to transform the sporting event into a platform for abuse and incitement, and to involve political issues that are not related to the spirit of sport or its ethics. The human rights organization stressed that sport, according to international covenants and standards, is a field for promoting human rapprochement and spreading the values of tolerance and mutual respect, and not a space for spreading hatred or fueling feelings of hostility. It considered that what was observed from fallacies and inciting speeches constitutes a clear infringement of these principles, and harms the role of sport as a tool for communication between peoples. In this context, the organization held the media morally and professionally responsible, calling for adherence to the rules of objectivity and accuracy, distinguishing between opinion and news, and refraining from exploiting sports demonstrations in political conflicts or populist rhetoric, because of its negative repercussions on societal peace and regional relations. The organization also drew attention to the fact that some reactions from Moroccans via social media platforms, which were characterized by gloating or provocation, are no less dangerous, stressing that these behaviors are in turn rejected and do not align with the values of sportsmanship or with the ethics of responsible digital communication. The organization reiterated its firm condemnation of all forms of incitement and hate speech, regardless of its source or justification, while emphasizing the rejection of politicizing sport and turning football competitions into fuel for conflicts between the Maghreb peoples. At the end of its statement, the organization addressed a clear appeal to the public and social media pioneers in the Maghreb region, in which it called on them to be wise, self-controlled, and to respect the values of fair competition, highlighting that the human and historical ties between peoples are stronger than any passing political disagreement, and that mutual respect remains the basis for any sound coexistence.
