[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15112]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              CONCERNS ABOUT MOROCCO'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD

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                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 3, 2013

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Washington Post published an 
editorial entitled ``Morocco's royal crackdown.'' The editorial 
highlights the conduct of King Mohammed VI and raises serious concerns 
about human rights in the kingdom, particularly the jailing of a 
prominent Moroccan journalist. The editorial states, ``King Mohammed's 
regime is showing signs of returning to autocratic practices.''
  An on-going pattern of human rights abuses by King Mohammed's 
security forces and secret police against voices for political reform, 
including self-determination for the occupied Western Sahara, are well 
documented by human rights organizations. According to Amnesty 
International, ``Pro-independence activists have been imprisoned 
following demonstrations calling for the right to self-determination 
for the people of the Western Sahara, and some have reportedly been 
tortured or otherwise ill-treated during questioning by Moroccan law 
enforcement officials.''
  The Kingdom of Morocco is a U.S. ally and trading partner, yet 
earlier this year the Moroccans abruptly cancelled the 13th annual 
U.S.-Morocco joint military exercise called ``African Lion.'' This 
joint exercise involved 1,400 U.S. service members and 900 Moroccan 
troops. U.S. troops and equipment were already in place when the 
Kingdom of Morocco cancelled the maneuvers ``after the Obama 
administration backed having the U.N. monitor human rights in the 
disputed territory of Western Sahara (under Moroccan occupation)'' 
reported the Associated Press on April 16, 2013.
  Obviously, King Mohammed VI and his kingdom's security apparatus have 
a human rights problem that is gaining the attention of the 
international community. It appears that human rights are not a matter 
that concerns them. The U.S.-Moroccan bilateral relationship must be 
based on a foundation of common values and that includes a fundamental 
respect for human rights. It is time for Congress to evaluate Morocco's 
human rights record and tell King Mohammed that the people of the U.S. 
expect more from him.

                [From the Washington Post, Oct. 2, 2013]

                       Morocco's Royal Crackdown


  By jailing a journalist, the country's monarch sends a regrettable 
                                message

       When the Arab revolutions erupted in Tunisia and Egypt in 
     2011, Morocco's King Mohammed VI responded by embracing 
     political reforms. The constitution was quickly revised, and 
     in 2012 a democratic election was held for parliament. When a 
     moderate Islamist party won a majority, it was invited to 
     form a government. Morocco was held up by Western admirers as 
     a potential model for other Arab monarchies, such as Jordan 
     and the Persian Gulf states.
       King Mohammed, however, never yielded his role as Morocco's 
     ultimate authority, retaining control over the armed forces 
     and judiciary. As Egypt has veered back toward autocracy 
     following a military coup against its elected Islamist 
     government, King Mohammed's regime is showing signs of 
     returning to autocratic practices. Foremost among these is 
     the arrest on terrorism charges of one of the country's 
     foremost journalists--and one of the king's most trenchant 
     critics.
       The journalist, Ali Anouzla, was taken from his home in 
     Rabat on Sept. 17, shortly after the Web site he edits 
     published an article about an al-Qaeda video attacking King 
     Mohammed for presiding over a ``kingdom of corruption and 
     despotism.'' Mr. Anouzla, who is known for his liberalism, 
     described the video as ``propaganda'' and did not report it 
     or link to it. He did, however, link to an article on the Web 
     site of the Spanish newspaper El Pais, which in turn linked 
     to the video. On those grounds, prosecutors have charged him 
     with ``inciting'' and ``providing material support'' for 
     terrorism, offenses that can lead to a prison term of up to 
     six years.
       Moroccan authorities know very well that Mr. Anouzla, who 
     has been pushing the boundaries of journalism and free 
     expression for a decade, is no friend of al-Qaeda. By seizing 
     on his reporting on the video--an entirely legitimate subject 
     for journalism--they are able to punish him for his 
     courageous and critical reporting about King Mohammed. 
     Disregarding a taboo against scrutinizing the monarch, Mr. 
     Anouzla has been breaking stories about him and his family 
     for years, first in a newspaper he helped to found and now in 
     the Web site Lakome.com. This year, he questioned the king's 
     extensive foreign travel; in August, a story about the king's 
     pardon of a Spaniard jailed in Morocco on charges of child 
     rape prompted unprecedented street demonstrations against the 
     monarchy.
       The king may calculate that the political opening he 
     undertook in March 2011, when the Arab world appeared to be 
     on the cusp of a democratic revolution, is no longer 
     necessary in a region where generals and jihadists are on the 
     ascent. But the Arab monarchies cannot avoid change: They are 
     doomed unless they can complete a transition to democratic 
     government. That means tolerating crusading journalists such 
     as Mr. Anouzla. If King Mohammed wants to preserve his 
     credibility as a reformer, he will order his critic released.

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