Morocco Bound

A Moroccan appeals court halved the sentence of rights activist Rida Benotmane, jailed for social media posts calling for rallies against "abuses by security forces", his lawyer said Tuesday. "The sentence has been reduced to a year and a half in prison," said lawyer...

Morocco’s image in the European Parliament has taken a hit these days with its members (MEPs) investigating allegations of bribes paid by Morocco to influence the parliament’s positions on issues important to the North Africa nation. Furthermore, MEPs have also been active investigating Morocco’s alleged use of Pegasus spyware and how it is still detaining independent journalists in its prisons. These allegations are making Morocco’s standing in the European parliament difficult to hold. There is even the risk of the country’s representatives being banned from entering the EU parliament’s facilities.

Moroccan trade union activists protested Sunday in the capital Rabat and other cities to denounce surging costs of food and fuel, defying a government ban against marches. Protesters from the Democratic Labour Confederation (CDT) staged rallies outside their offices...

Police on Friday detained a Belgian European Parliament member for questioning after searching a bank safe belonging to him as part of a probe into a bribery scandal that has rocked the EU.  Belgium's federal prosecutors said "several raids" were carried out Friday...