Morocco sentences journalist Omar Radi in trial slammed by rights groups
The court on Monday sentenced Omar Radi to six years in prison on espionage and rape charges he denies.
A Moroccan court on Monday sentenced outspoken journalist Omar Radi to six years in prison on sexual assault and espionage charges he denies, following what rights groups described as a grossly unfair trial.
Radi, 35, is one of the founders of independent news outlet Le Desk and has written extensively about government corruption. In July 2020, Moroccan authorities arrested and charged him with “harming the internal and external security of Morocco” and receiving foreign funding to undermine state security. He was also charged with “rape” and “indecent assault against a female” related to a sexual assault accusation made by a former colleague.
Radi, who is detained in a Casablanca prison, denies the charges against him and says the sex was consensual.
Amnesty International said Radi and his legal team were denied access to some of the evidence against him as well as requests to summon defense witnesses. For nearly a year, Radi has been held in solitary confinement, the rights group said.
