Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Morocco's anti-fasting journalist disappears...

Zineb El Rhazoui is nowhere to be found. The Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH) has had "no news" of the Franco-Moroccan journalist since Thursday. She is suspected of being the brain behind a failed "non-fasters” demonstration during the Ramadan fasting month in Morocco. Zineb El Rhazoui is a member of the Movement for alternative civil liberties (MALI). September 13, the group organised a picnic in a wooded area close to Mohammedia, to break their fast in the afternoon. Their goal was to denounce a Moroccan law that punishes "public non-observance of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan." Article 222 of Morocco’s Penal Code states that "any Moroccan Muslim who publicly violates (the fast) is punishable by six months in prison and a fine," while another outrightly bans de-conversion from Islam.

Referring the case to the Department of Justice, the president of AMDH said, "it is not known whether she disappeared in an illegal manner or if she is hiding to avoid the tension associated with her recent activities”. Before her disappearance, five of the six young members of MALI who also campaigned for the abrogation of Act 222 were summoned for questioning by the Moroccan police. Zineb El-Rhazoui, who was also summoned Thursday at Mohammedia, has not been seen since. The authorities cliam not to "know where she is." More...

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