Morocco has intensified its crackdown on independent journalism in recent years, with several prominent reporters facing lengthy prison sentences on charges widely condemned by press freedom organizations as politically motivated. Journalists who cover sensitive topics — including the Western Sahara conflict, corruption, and the royal family — have faced prosecution under broadly worded laws on national security, insulting state institutions, and sexual misconduct.
Among the most high-profile cases is that of Omar Radi, an investigative journalist convicted in 2021 on charges of espionage and rape, which he and his supporters deny. He was sentenced to six years in prison. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Amnesty International have repeatedly called for his release, describing him as a prisoner of conscience. Similarly, Soulaiman Raissouni, a journalist and editor, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2021 after a trial criticized for procedural irregularities.
Morocco consistently ranks poorly on global press freedom indices. In RSF's 2025 World Press Freedom Index, Morocco ranked in the lower tier of countries, reflecting ongoing concerns about judicial harassment, surveillance of journalists, and self-censorship driven by fear of prosecution. The Pegasus spyware scandal, which emerged in 2021, revealed that Moroccan authorities had allegedly used the NSO Group's surveillance tool to monitor journalists and activists, allegations Morocco has denied.
Independent digital media outlets have faced particular pressure, with authorities using financial investigations and advertising boycotts to undermine their operations. Critics argue that Morocco's legal framework — including provisions in the penal code and the press code — gives prosecutors wide latitude to silence dissenting voices under the guise of protecting public order or national integrity. Press freedom advocates continue to urge Moroccan authorities to release imprisoned journalists and reform laws that criminalize legitimate reporting.
