RIDA
BENOTMANE

Background and Work

Rida Benotmane is a journalist, author, and human rights monitor based in Morocco. He is a member of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) and the Freedom Now association. His work centres on documenting state abuses, advocating for detainees' rights, and amplifying dissent in a climate where criticism of the state carries severe penalties.

Between 2007 and 2011, Benotmane served four years in prison for online commentaries in which he denounced torture in secret detention centres. Authorities convicted him on appeal of "apology for terrorism"—an offence defined as reacting positively to an act of terrorism—and "offence to the person of the king." The charges stemmed entirely from his online writing. After his release, he resumed his human rights work and continued to use social media to document violations and mobilise public action.

The Arrest

In 2021, Benotmane posted commentaries on Facebook and YouTube that criticised the security forces and called for public demonstrations against human rights abuses. One Facebook post explicitly called for a march to protest violations by the authorities. Two YouTube videos articulated grievances against the state, echoing themes he had long addressed in his journalism and advocacy.

On 9 September 2022, the National Brigade of the Judicial Police (BNPJ) in Casablanca summoned Benotmane for questioning. He was arrested the same day. Officers interrogated him in the absence of his lawyer. The questioning focused on the Facebook post calling for the march and the two YouTube videos. He was formally detained and transferred to Rabat to face prosecution.

Legal Proceedings

On 7 November 2022, the Court of First Instance in Rabat sentenced Benotmane to three years' imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 Moroccan dirhams (approximately €450). The court convicted him of "contempt of constitutional institutions." The proceedings centred exclusively on his online statements.

Benotmane's legal team challenged the conviction on multiple procedural grounds. They argued that errors had infected every stage of the case: the arrest itself, the conduct of the investigation, the interrogation in the absence of counsel, and the legal characterisation of the alleged offences. They further contended that the first-instance judge had failed to address the procedural objections raised by the defence. The appeal was scheduled for 16 January 2023 but was postponed twice before the court convened on 13 February 2023.

At the appeal hearing, defence counsel presented arguments to nullify the first-instance conviction on the basis of incompatibility with Article 751 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. They urged the court to set aside the sentence before proceeding to substantive review. On 22 February 2023, the Rabat Court of Appeal reduced the sentence to eighteen months but upheld the conviction. The charges on appeal were listed as "defaming a legally regulated entity," "disparaging public officials in the performance of their duties," and "spreading false accusations without authorisation" under Articles 263, 265, 266, and 447(2) of the Moroccan Penal Code.

Detention and Release

Benotmane was held in Laarjat 1 prison in Rabat. He served the entirety of the reduced sentence without remission. On 9 March 2024, after eighteen months in detention, he was released.

Pattern of Repression

Benotmane's case reflects a sustained pattern of criminalising online expression in Morocco. His 2022 prosecution for Facebook posts and YouTube videos mirrors the charges that sent him to prison a decade earlier. The cycle of arrest, conviction on speech-related offences, and imprisonment underscores the persistence of judicial harassment against those who document state abuses or call for public accountability. His release in March 2024 closed one chapter of this pattern but did not resolve the broader repression that continues to shape the environment for journalists and human rights defenders in the country.