O/T - Moroccan politics24 Jul 2024 09:13
Copied from another forum and maybe of interest here (I hold no position here, short or long):
O/T - Moroccan politics
Morocco has sentenced an 82-year-old former minister to five years in prison after he criticised King MohammedΓ’β¬β’s absences from the country and suggested that he should abdicate.
Mohamed Ziane, a former human rights minister who was previously close to the monarchy, also hinted that the king may have lost interest in ruling due to his Γ’β¬ΕromanceΓ’β¬οΏΎ with a mixed martial arts champion convicted of assault.
Ziane was arrested and imprisoned shortly after making the statements in 2022. On Saturday a court sentenced him to five yearsΓ’β¬β’ imprisonment for Γ’β¬Εinvolvement in misappropriation of public election fundsΓ’β¬οΏΎ for the political party he founded.
Ali Reza Ziane, his son and lawyer, dismissed the charges as Γ’β¬ΕbaselessΓ’β¬οΏΎ. He told The Times that the sentence against his father, who suffers from poor health, Γ’β¬Εamounts to a life sentenceΓ’β¬οΏΎ due to his age.
ZianeΓ’β¬β’s remarks were made as a controversy simmered over the kingΓ’β¬β’s close relationship with Abubakr Azaitar, who was convicted in Germany over a string of offences, including assault. Top officials see Azaitar and his familyΓ’β¬β’s influence over the king, 60, as a danger to the crown and their own positions.
International media reports about the relationship and the kingΓ’β¬β’s long sojourns abroad prompted Mohammed to embark on a whirlwind of official activities last year to restore his authority.
Saying that the king lacked the will to exercise power, Ziane had told El Independiente, a Spanish news website: Γ’β¬ΕThe fact that Mohammed VI is outside Morocco is totally abnormal. You canΓ’β¬β’t run a country by Zoom.Γ’β¬οΏΎ He suggested that he should abdicate in favour of his son, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan.
Γ’β¬ΕIf he canΓ’β¬β’t take it any more or is not interested, doesnΓ’β¬β’t want to or doesnΓ’β¬β’t see himself continuing as monarch under this pressure for reasons of health or for reasons of fantasy or romance, thatΓ’β¬β’s his problem. If he doesnΓ’β¬β’t want to be king, let him not be king.Γ’β¬οΏΎ
Ali Reza, who will appeal against the sentence, said: Γ’β¬ΕWe do not ask for a pardon but that the freedom of expression be respected. ItΓ’β¬β’s a political debate. He has done nothing wrong. He is ready to die in prison rather than ask for a pardon.Γ’β¬οΏΎ He added: Γ’β¬ΕOur family is living in terror. There are many political prisoners in Morocco.Γ’β¬οΏΎ
Ziane had already made veiled criticisms about the monarchΓ’β¬β’s gold and phosphate businesses, saying the countryΓ’β¬β’s natural resources were Γ’β¬Εthe wealth of the people and not for private exploitationΓ’β¬οΏΎ. The kingΓ’β¬β’s fortune has been estimated at $5 billion.
Ziane was also the lawyer for detainees in the popular uprisings that shook the northern Rif region between 2016 and 2
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