At the origin of this campaign, the entry on the Moroccan soil of two French journalists as tourists, having not declared their status or requested special authorization to make reports on the earthquake.
The incident that ignited the passions took place last Wednesday, when the Moroccan authorities arrested Quentin Müller, deputy editor -in -chief of the prestigious French weekly “Marianne”, and Thérèse Di Campo, reporter and photojournalist, in their hotel in Casablanca, in the early hours.
They were escorted at the airport and forced to embark on a flight to Marseille.
The indignation quickly spread online under the hashtag #طبقوا_الفيزا_علي_فرنسا (impose a visa on France). Moroccan Internet users believe that the taxation of visas is an act of sovereignty necessary to protect the national interests of Morocco.
Quentin Müller’s shock declaration added oil to the fire. On social networks, he described his arrest as “purely political” and used the hashtag #journalismomotrime to denounce what he considers as an infringement of press freedom.
He revealed that their investigation focused on the economic, social and libertarian violence of the Moroccan regime, fueled by the power of the king and his ultra-repressive security services.
Reacting during its weekly press briefing. Mustapha Baitas, the government spokesman, said the two journalists had entered Morocco as tourists, not having declared their status as journalists or requests for special authorization.
Their expulsion, according to him, was based on a decision by the administrative authorities, in accordance with the Moroccan law.
The government spokesman insisted that the difference in treatment between these journalists and those of “Marianne” resided in their transparent approach, their respect for press freedom, and their interaction with citizens and victims.
Ramzi
