Maati Monjib

Maati Monjib
المعطي منجب
Maati Monjib at 2017 Freedom of Expression Awards
Born (1962-03-06) 6 March 1962 (age 62)
Benslimane, Morocco
NationalityMoroccan
Occupation(s)Historian
Journalist
University Professor
Writer
Political activist
Known forPolitical activism

Maati Monjib (Arabic: المعطي منجب, born 6 March 1962) is a Moroccan university professor, journalist, historian, writer and political activist. Monjib holds two PhDs, one from France in North African politics and another from Senegal on African political history.[1] Monjib is known in Morocco for supporting Moroccan investigative journalism. He has criticized the monarchy in columns in the foreign press in the past and once ran a center that held meetings that included opposition groups.[2]

In 2015, Monjib was brought to justice along with six other journalists and activists in Morocco, and charged with "threatening national security", before being banned from traveling outside the country, in a case that was widely criticised by human rights groups and was considered as politically motivated.[3] Since then, the trial has been postponed 15 times.[4]

On 29 December 2020, Monjib was arrested in Rabat for "money laundering and fraud".[5] The accusations from the Moroccan authorities claimed misuse of funds he received from international NGOs, even if the latter never expressed any doubt as to how the funds were used.[6] After a hunger strike, he was granted conditional release on 23 March 2021.[7] Several international groups and organizations contested and campaigned against the "harassment" Monjib faced, including the Committee to Protect Journalists,[8] Amnesty International,[9] and the European Parliament.[10]

  1. ^ "Maâti Monjib". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Moroccan intellectual suspends hunger strike, faces charges: lawyer". Reuters. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Journalists and activists stand trial in Morocco". The Guardian. Associated Press. 19 November 2015. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Case History: Maâti Monjib". Front Line Defenders. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  5. ^ Stangler, Cole; El Hamamouchi, Abdellatif (21 October 2021). "Morocco's Intelligence Apparatus Fuels a Crackdown on Dissent". The Intercept. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Academic Maati Monjib sentenced to one year in prison following a trial tainted with irregularities". MENA Rights Group. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Morocco's Maati Monjib back in court tomorrow". Reporters Without Borders. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  8. ^ Crouch, Erik (28 January 2021). "Moroccan journalist Maati Monjib sentenced to 1 year in prison". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  9. ^ "URGENT ACTION - Imprisoned Academic's Life in Danger" (PDF). Amnesty International. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  10. ^ Strik, Tineke. "Parliamentary question | The arrest of Maati Monjib by the Moroccan authorities | E-000652/2021". European Parliament. Retrieved 14 October 2021.