The Guardian reacts to the expulsion of its journalist Saeed Kamali

The Guardian, a British daily newspaper headquartered in London, has confirmed the expulsion of its journalist, Saeed Kamali, from Morocco while reporting on the Hirak popular movement. According to AFP, the Guardian issued a statement reacting to the incident.

«Saeed Kamali Dehghan is safe and well, and has returned to London», wrote the newspaper. «We are surprised that a respected Guardian correspondent reporting in Morocco was told to leave the country, and we are looking into the circumstances in more detail», added the Guardian.

On the other hand, Kamali tweeted on the same day saying that «the Guardian issues this statement regarding my expulsion from Morocco today. I won’t be making further comments. Thanks for all messages».  

The Guardian issues this statement regarding my expulsion from Morocco today. I won’t be making further comments. Thanks for all messages. pic.twitter.com/vKjlKGddmr

— Saeed Kamali Dehghan (@SaeedKD) 28 septembre 2017

For the record, Telquel reported on Thursday that Saeed Kamali Dehghan was expelled from Morocco on the 28th of September while reporting on the Hirak in Al Hoceima. He was indeed taken to Mohammed V airport in Casablanca to fly to London, after being arrested by the authorities, on September the 27th, in Al Hoceima

The Iranian journalist attended on the 25th of September the Women in Africa Forum, in Marrakech. On September the 27th, Saeed Kamali Dehghan traveled to Al Hoceima where he met Hirak figures.

Contacting the authorities, a source told Telquel that indeed Kamali was expelled as he did not follow the procedures set for foreign journalists intending to operate in Morocco. «We were obliged to take this step to comply with the law. A foreign journalist should contact the administration to be accredited. Unfortunately, he did not contact the Administration to facilitate his work», said the source.

Meanwhile the British foreign ministry told AFP that it was unaware of any journalists being deported from Morocco to Britain.

Saeed Kamali Dehghan was named the journalist of the year in 2010 by the Foreign Press Association and has previously worked as a correspondant for the Guardian in Iran.