This archive report was first published on 1 October 2019.
On October 1, 2019, a Moroccan court sentenced journalist Hajar Raissouni to a year in jail for charges of premarital sex and procuring an abortion.
Raissouni, who works for an independent newspaper in Rabat, denied the charges, stating that she had sought medical help due to internal bleeding. She claimed that she was targeted because of her stand against the authorities.
The prosecution argued that the clinic Raissouni visited had been under suspicion for providing abortions, which are illegal in Morocco. Following her arrest, Raissouni was interrogated and forced to undergo a gynaecological exam, which reportedly showed low levels of pregnancy hormones, suggesting her innocence.
Despite this, the court sentenced Raissouni to a year in jail, along with her fiancé, a Sudanese national, and her doctor, who received a two-year sentence.
Human rights observers spoke out against the sentencing, alleging that the charges were fabricated to shame Raissouni and deter others from speaking out against the authorities. Raissouni had previously covered civil unrest in northern Morocco.
