Al Watan Alaan (The Homeland Now)Editor-in-Chief Abdul Rehim Ariri and Editor Mustafa Hormatallah, were arrested on July 17 after publishing information in the Arabic-language weekly that quoted a military intelligence document. An unnamed Royal Armed Forces officer was put under arrest on Thursday.The published article claimed Al Qaeda had plans to send twelve Arab and four Pakistani fighters to carry out attacks in Morocco and other Maghreb states.
"The officer and several other officers have been heard over the case," said a government official. The unnamed officer will go on trial when the probe into the leak of the information was completed, he said.Officials declined to comment on charges the two journalists could face or when they would be released or put on trial, citing the secrecy of the ongoing investigation.
Early this month, Morocco raised its security alert level to the highest rating of "maximum", suggesting an attack was imminent. The Interior Ministry has said it had obtained recent intelligence information on a threat but gave no details.
Online journal Magharebia is quoting a Reporters without Borders (RSF) report that says the internal memo "seems not to have contained any confidential information, as it only referred to online posts that anyone can access". In conclusion, RSF wrote, "It seems as if this is meant to be a warning to any journalist who might be inclined to investigate Morocco's ability to defend itself against terrorism."
Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Press Union (MNPU) Younes Moujahid condemned the journalists' arrest, and said that they did nothing but their job in receiving information and publishing it to inform the public.
Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
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