Rabat Deports Algerian Journalist Djamel Alilat

Morocco official news agency, reported on Monday evening, that Rabat deported the Algerian journalist Djamel Alilat, who was arrested during his coverage of protests in the Rif region.

It said; “Authorities of the province of Nador decided, on Monday, the expulsion of a foreign national of Algerian nationality outside the Moroccan territory, on the basis of his press coverage without prior permission from the concerned authorities”.

“According to a statement by the Nador authorities, in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 03-02 on the entry and residence of foreigners in the Kingdom of Morocco, authorities of Nador province decided on Monday May,29, 2017 decided to expel a foreign national of Algerian nationality outside the Moroccan territory”.

“This decision was made against the background of the press coverage without the prior permission of the concerned authorities”.

Al-Watan newspaper reported on its website that the Moroccan gendarmerie transferred the journalist to the police headquarters in Nador and expressed concern about the journalist’s condition, asking for the acceleration of his release.

Algerian ambassador to Rabat, Ahmed Ben Yamina, began on Monday, the proceedings with the Moroccan authorities on deporting the Algerian journalist, Djamel Alilat, who works for the daily Al-Watan newspaper, who was arrested by the Royal Gendarmerie on Sunday evening, according to Echorouk News sources.

Moroccan media revealed that members of the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie, arrested on Sunday evening, a journalist in the French-language newspaper Al Watan, Djamal Alilat, in the Nador region, when he was covering the movement in the countryside of Morocco for months.

The sources claimed that the Moroccan gendarmerie arrested the Algerian journalist while he was taking photographs and video clips of the sit-in in the city without obtaining a license to take pictures from the Moroccan Communication Ministry. 

The journalist was placed under investigation by order of the Moroccan Public Prosecution without facing any charge until now.