Radio silence among Morocco’s detractors after the release of writer Boualem Sansal

The debate on human rights in the Arab world is often fueled by fervent positions. However, the recent silence of some critics of Morocco, purported specialists in North African affairs, such as Spanish journalists Ignacio Cembrero and Francisco Carrión, as well as controversial French journalist Quentin Müller, following the release of writer Boualem Sansal, raises important questions. While the European Parliament has unanimously condemned the repression in Algeria and called for Sansal’s release, the voices that had previously ignited against Morocco seem curiously absent. This silence highlights an unacceptable double standard in the media coverage of human rights.

In January 2023, a similar event, presented by the European United Left group, had provoked a wave of indignation among these same critics. During a vote against Morocco, they were quick to react, multiplying articles and comments on social media to denounce the situation. Their enthusiasm for denouncing alleged abuses was palpable, making their current silence all the more striking. This contrast questions the sincerity of their commitment to human rights and raises doubts about the consistency of their discourse.

The position of some MEPs regarding Sansal’s release, particularly that of Rima Hassan (La France Insoumise), who voted against the resolution on Algeria, adds a layer of complexity to this dynamic. Her refusal to support an initiative in favor of human rights seems to contradict her previous positions, raising even more questions about her ambiguous ties to the Algerian regime. In an attempt to restore her image, her party, “LFI,” defended her decision by stating to the French press that a vote against Algeria could have worsened already tense relations with that country.

The silence of Morocco’s detractors concerning the situation in Algeria is not limited to inconsistency or ethical failure. It also reveals the true faces of these mercenaries of the pen, in service of the Algerian military regime. They seem to obey the orders of corporals dictating their actions, acting based on a retrograde and anti-democratic ideology, with the aim of trampling on human rights and silencing freedom of expression.