Moroccan lawyer and political activist Mohamed Ziane, 84, has been arbitrarily detained since 2022 in El Arjat 1 Prison. He is currently held in prolonged solitary confinement and cannot join other prisoners or take walks outside. He was initially sentenced to three years in prison on charges related to insulting public officials. While serving this sentence, he was tried in a separate case involving alleged embezzlement and misappropriation of funds. On April 8, 2026, the Rabat Court of Appeal sentenced him to five years in prison.
According to his lawyer, Mohamed Ziane’s health has seriously deteriorated. In June 2026, prison authorities imposed disciplinary measures after he expressed solidarity with detained activists and government critics during a phone call with his lawyer. As a result, authorities temporarily barred him from buying food and bottled drinking water from the prison commissary, worsening his kidney condition.
Moroccan authorities must immediately release Mohamed Ziane and quash his convictions. Pending his release, they must ensure he receives adequate healthcare and is held in conditions that meet international standards.
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Morocco: TAKE ACTION: Free political opponent/lawyer jailed for his activism
