First Independent Mena Newspaper
Two United Nations rights experts have denounced the Egyptian government for its reprisals against human rights defenders who dared to talk to a visiting UN delegation that was enquiring on housing in the North African country. The reprisals included housing demolitions and arbitrary arrests, against human rights defenders and others. Special Rapporteur on the right […]
Amazigh activist Salim Yezza received a one year suspended sentence after he criticized on Facebook the Algerian government’s treatment of minorities. Yezza criticized the authorities’ discriminatory policy against the Mozabites, an Amazigh or Berber – ethnic minority in the Ghardaia region. The France-based activist was arrested on July 14 at the Biskra airport as he […]
Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni commended the progress made by Morocco in the areas of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Battaini-Dragoni told local reporters while on a visit to Rabat that Morocco’s 2011 constitution is a milestone that crowned a reform process. Morocco strengthened its legislative and […]
The Egyptian foreign ministry announced Sunday it summoned the envoys of several Western countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Canada and Britain to protest against ‘meddling in Egypt’s internal affairs’ concerning the case of human rights defender Ibrahim Metwally, currently detained in prison. Cairo in a statement said it strongly disagreed with these countries, which […]
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour said Morocco made significant progress in eradicating torture and all forms of ill-treatment. The UN official also commended Morocco for its support for UN Office for Human Rights (OHCHR) in promoting human rights and combating all forms of violence. Gilmour made the remarks during a meeting with […]
Rights groups have alerted French President Emmanuel Macron over hosting Egyptian President Fattah al-Sisi who has rolled back human rights in the North African country since he seized power in 2013. President al-Sisi is paying as of this Tuesday (October 24) a two-day visit to France, with discussions to touch on bilateral cooperation, including arms […]
Morocco recorded “significant progress” in the field of human rights in conformity with its constitutional commitments, said the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2016. The report points out to the legislative reforms undertaken by Morocco to protect human rights, strengthen the rule of law and promote democratic practices. […]
Mauritanian activist Biram Dah Abeid Wednesday was forced to abort conference on human rights abuses and racism in his country after receiving instructions from Senegalese authorities. The leader of the anti-slavery movement (IRA) Wednesday called off Thursday-planed conference on the situation of human rights and racism in the North African country where he has been […]
Algeria has been asked to look in the mirror before raising the human rights situation in Morocco and its southern provinces, the Sahara. In a scathing criticism of the Algerian disillusioned diplomacy, Moroccan representative at the Human Rights Council (HRC) told Algeria to address the grave human rights violations within its territories before venturing to […]
Department of State’s Report Lauds Morocco’s Efforts to Guarantee Civil Liberties The U.S. Department of State’s 2016 Country Report on Human Rights Practices highlights the efforts led by Moroccan authorities to uphold civil liberties. The annual report highlighted Morocco’s commitment to guarantee the freedom of speech and the press noting that “in July the parliament […]