Moroccan journalist Taoufik Bouachrine goes on hunger strike

Moroccan journalist and editor Taoufik Bouachrine began, Sunday, a hunger strike to protest against «poor prison conditions», wrote Arabic-language newspaper Alyaoum24. Sentenced to 15 years in prison, Bouachrine’s decision comes despite «his health condition deterioration», the same source said.

Bouachrine’s hunger strike was reportedly at the heart of a phone call that he had with former Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane and his lawyer Mohamed Ziyane. According to the same source, Benkirane urged Bouachrine to put an end to his hunger strike.

In October, the Casablanca Court of Appeals increased the sentence handed down to Bouachrine, sentencing him to 15 years in prison instead of 12. He was found guilty of «human trafficking», «abuse of power» and «sexual harassment».