On hunger strike for more than 2 months, Soulaimane Raissouni hospitalized

While he has been on a hunger strike for more than two months to protest against the conditions of his imprisonment and his right to a fair trial, journalist Soulaimane Raissouni was transferred to the Ibn Rochd University Hospital Center in Casablanca on Saturday June 19 on instruction from the Prison Directorate.

The information was revealed by her niece, journalist Hajar Raissouni, on her twitter account. In detail, Hajar says the former editor of the daily Akhbar Al Yaoum collapsed due to hypoglycemia and high blood pressure. He was subsequently transferred ” in intensive care on Monday, June 21, where he underwent tests which showed that the level of creatinine in his body was 11 “And that it was not far from a possible” renal failure“.

The critical state of health of the journalist in pre-trial detention at the local prison Ain -Sbaâ 1-Oukacha, for ” rape with violence and forcible confinement“, Has been repeatedly raised by his family and his supporters. The latter had called, and continue to do so, on social networks and through sit-ins and press conferences, for his parole, since he meets all the criteria, and the right to a fair trial. All the requests for provisional release on condition of his defense, 12 in total, were rejected by the criminal chamber of the Casablanca court of appeal, while Soulaimane had always denied the charges against him.

On June 17, Soulaimane Raissouni wrote a poignant letter which seemed to be a letter of farewell. ” Today, Thursday June 17, 2021, I am 71 days away from my battle of empty bowels. And this is something that neither the prison administration nor the public prosecutor doubts “, Wrote the ex-editor of the newspaper” Akhbar Al Yaoum “ , who wonders, referring to his case, if it is conceivable that a person on hunger strike for 3 months is in good health despite having lost 35 kg since his arrest, and 18 kg since the start of his strike.

In his letter, the journalist affirms that his right foot has become almost paralyzed, according to the statements of the doctors of the local prison Ain-Sbaa 1 – Oukacha, as well as of the professor Boutayeb of the delegation of the National Council of the rights of the Male (CNDH). Souleimane also wanted to respond to those who see his hunger strike as an act of “ cowardice “Asking them to be” courageous and to stop eating for half the time of his strike ” . “ And condemn me at this time to the most severe penalties » , he said.

For its part, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) sent a letter, dated June 15, to the King of Morocco Mohammed VI, imploring the immediate release of the journalist, whose extremely worrying state of health requires immediate care. .

“ On behalf of the International Federation of Journalists, the world’s leading organization for the profession, we call for the immediate release of journalist Souleimane Raissouni, whose life is in danger after 67 days of hunger strike », We can read in the letter sent on June 15 to King Mohammed VI by the IFJ, which represents more than 600,000 journalists in 150 countries.

“ Souleimane Raissouni, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Akhbar Al-Yaoum has been in detention since May 22, 2020, and has started a hunger strike more than two months ago to protest his imprisonment. In isolation for over a year, our colleague has lost nearly 40 kilos and is in a state of extreme weakness that could lead to his death. This journalist has the right to a fair trial and to respect for his personal dignity and we implore you, Your Majesty, that everything be done to save his life. », Expressed the IFJ in its letter sent from Brussels and signed by the secretary general of the federation, Anthony Bellanger.

This Tuesday, June 22 will take place another hearing of the trial of journalists Soulaimane Raissouni, Omar Radi (prosecuted for rape and attack on internal security of the state) and Imad Stitou in the court of Casablanca unveiled Hajar Raissouni in a tweet.