Pegasus Case: Morocco files injunction request against German Süddeutsche Zeitung GmbH

Morocco filed, on Monday in Germany, a request for an injunction against the “Süddeutsche Zeitung GmbH” publishing company for “false allegations in connection with a coverage on the alleged use of Pegasus spyware by the Kingdom of Morocco”.

 

According to the request, filed by Morocco, represented by its ambassador in Berlin Zohour Alaoui, “Süddeutsche Zeitung GmbH had alleged in several reports, partly as established fact and partly as suspicion, that the Kingdom had used the spy software called Pegasus to spy on and tap the cell phones of many politicians, journalists and other people,” said the Moroccan embassy in Berlin in a statement.

 

Morocco, which strongly denies these allegations, has never acquired the spyware and therefore never used it, the statement said.

 

This action in Germany comes after the defamation proceedings already initiated by Morocco in France against Amnesty International, Forbidden Stories, Le Monde, Mediapart and Radio France.

 

On July 22, Morocco launched first defamation proceedings against Amnesty International and Forbidden Stories, the two organizations behind Morocco’s accusations of infiltrating the phones of several national and foreign public figures through Pegasus software.

 

On July 28, Morocco had filed with French courts new direct defamation complaints against the daily Le Monde and its director Jérôme Fenoglio, the news website Mediapart and its owner Edwy Plenel, and Radio France.

 

In a recent interview with the pan-African magazine Jeune Afrique, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita affirmed that any person or organization bringing accusations against Morocco, will have to provide proof, or assume its libelous denunciation in court.

 

Morocco has chosen to trust justice, nationally and internationally, Bourita underlined in reaction to the persistent media campaign about an alleged infiltration of the phones of several national and foreign public figures.

 

Alongside the legal actions in France and Germany, Morocco has taken its own steps to prove the illegality of the allegations made against it.

 

A renowned French group of experts is currently examining the technical elements related to these allegations and will prepare a special report.