Why Maati Monjib Cannot Leave the National Territory
In a desperate attempt to manipulate international public opinion, activist Maati Monjib turned to one of the Algerian regime’s outlets in Spain, the newspaper El Independiente, well known for its critical publications against Morocco, to portray himself as an innocent victim of an “illegal measure” preventing him from leaving Moroccan territory, despite having benefited from a royal pardon.
However, this account, signed by journalist Francisco Carrión—recently expelled from the Moroccan Sahara—intentionally distorts the facts, offering a biased version of reality through an artificial reading of Moroccan criminal law.
A crucial detail seems to have been carefully omitted by this journalist: Monjib was pardoned only for “fraud” and “undermining state security.” These are serious charges that deserve our full attention. In fact, Monjib remains under judicial supervision due to his involvement in another case related to the management of foreign funds—a situation that should not raise any questions regarding the legality of the travel ban issued by an investigating judge.
It is important to recall that Monjib created the “Ibn Rochd” (Averroes) center, a project supposedly aimed at promoting enlightened ideas about journalism. However, it was revealed that this center mainly served as a cover to illegally collect foreign funds—constituting a major financial crime. Instead of addressing this crucial issue, Monjib’s supporters focus on the royal pardon, as if it should erase all other accusations against him.
In his statement to El Independiente, Monjib cites Article 160 of the Moroccan Code of Criminal Procedure, claiming that a travel ban can only be imposed for a maximum of one year. However, he deliberately omits the second paragraph of the same article, which allows the investigating judge to extend the ban indefinitely. This blatant omission reveals his bad faith, aiming to twist legal facts to build a version of reality in which he poses as a victim.
By portraying himself as a staunch defender of his “rights,” Monjib seems to ignore the serious money laundering charges that Moroccan justice has been able to substantiate through a judicial investigation opened in 2019. Rather than confronting these charges, he waves the royal pardon as a shield, pretending it nullifies all his wrongful actions.
The competent authorities have shed full light on this case in a transparent manner, while writers like Francisco Carrión work to perpetuate this situation with the aim of fueling disinformation and opacity around the Monjib affair.