Prince Moulay Hicham reacts to the trial of Moroccan journalist Omar Radi

The trial of Moroccan journalist Omar Radi is the «latest episode» of a series of human rights violations in Morocco, especially when it comes to freedom of speech and opinion, Morocco’s Moulay Hicham said on Saturday.

In a Facebook post, he said that «protecting national institutions is one thing but using law to continuously crush public debate is another thing».

To King Mohammed VI's first cousin, issues «cannot be dealt with in depth without having clear guarantees that freedom of speech and opinion, among other human rights, will remain protected by the Constitution». «Those who think that restricting these freedoms is justified (…) are mistaken».

Moulay Hiach said that national institutions are «criticized by ordinary citizens because of the lack of credible societal intermediaries through which they can express their frustrations».

«Confiscating this right will inevitably lead to open conflict and contrary to what some believe, no strategy of pressure or intimidation can restore the situation as it was previously», he concluded.