Key facts
- Moroccan police arrested journalist Ali Lmrabet upon his arrival at Tangier airport on Sunday.
- Lmrabet is under investigation for "alleged dissemination of false information harming constitutional institutions".
- He faces preliminary charges of slander and defamation.
- Lmrabet has been a vocal critic of Morocco's political system.
- He was previously jailed in 2003 for offending the king and banned from practicing journalism for 10 years starting in 2005.
Moroccan police arrested dissident journalist Ali Lmrabet upon his arrival at Tangier airport on Sunday, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported on Monday. Lmrabet, who also holds French nationality and resides in Spain, is under investigation for "alleged dissemination of false information harming constitutional institutions." Moroccan judicial authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
An informed source indicated that Lmrabet faces a preliminary investigation following complaints filed by individuals and institutions in Morocco, alleging slander and defamation. Lmrabet has been an outspoken critic of Morocco's political system.
This is not the first time Lmrabet has faced legal issues in Morocco. In 2003, he was jailed after being convicted of charges that included offending the king. Subsequently, in 2005, a Moroccan court banned him from practicing journalism in the country for a decade.