Moroccan journalist jailed for abortion that she says never happened

Moroccan journalist jailed for abortion that she says never happened
Critics say Hajar Raissouni’s one-year sentence is a crackdown on criticism government

Ruth Michaelson
Mon 30 Sep 2019

A Moroccan journalist has been sentenced to a year in prison on charges of having an illegal abortion and premarital sex, in a trial observers say was concocted to crack down on criticism of the government.

A Rabat court sentenced journalist Hajar Raissouni to one year in prison, on charges of “having an illegal abortion and sexual relations outside marriage”. Her fiancee, Prof Rifaat al-Amin was given a one-year sentence for alleged complicity.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/30/moroccan-journalist-hajar-raissouni-jailed-abortion

Morocco – Who Gets Arrested for Having an Abortion?

Who Gets Arrested for Having an Abortion?
Laws that criminalize “immoral” behavior in Morocco and elsewhere aren’t about ethics. They’re tools for state control.

By Ursula Lindsey
Sept. 25, 2019

On Aug. 31, six plainclothes policemen arrested a woman named Hajar Raissouni outside the office of her obstetrician-gynecologist in Morocco’s capital, Rabat. She was detained along with her fiancé, her doctor, his anesthesiologist and his secretary. Her doctor was compelled to hand over her medical records while Ms. Raissouni was forced to undergo a medical examination and to answer questions about her sex life.

Ms. Raissouni, a 28-year-old journalist from a politically active family, is now on trial for having an abortion and for having sex outside of marriage. Both are crimes under Morocco’s penal code, and she faces up to two years in jail; her doctor also faces jail time. Ms. Raissouni’s defense maintains that there was no abortion and that the medical reports presented by the prosecution are false.

Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/25/opinion/hajar-raissouni-arrest.html

25.09.2019

Moroccan women say they are abortion ‘outlaws’ in protest at journalist’s trial

Moroccan women say they are abortion 'outlaws' in protest at journalist's trial

Issued on: 23/09/2019

Hundreds of Moroccan women on Monday signed a manifesto stating that they have broken their country's "unfair" laws punishing extramarital relations and abortions.

The statement comes as a Moroccan female journalist stands trial for allegedly having sex outside of wedlock and illegally terminating a pregnancy.

"We, Moroccan citizens, declare that we are outlaws," the women said in the text published in Moroccan media outlets and due to appear in French daily Le Monde on Tuesday.

Continued: https://www.france24.com/en/20190923-morocco-women-sex-abortion-manifesto-protest-journalist-raissouni-leila-slimani

23.09.2019

The Next Battleground for Abortion Rights: Morocco

The Next Battleground for Abortion Rights: Morocco
The North African country is emerging as a key battleground on abortion, with an increasingly assertive movement seeking a break with conservative laws.

By Alice Morrison
Sept 23 2019

It’s midnight and moonless as a group of women gathers outside the Ministry of Health in Rabat, Morocco. They have assembled to wage war on Morocco’s abortion laws, which prohibit abortion in all cases except when the life of the mother is in immediate danger. Their weapon of choice? Sanitary towels covered in fake blood and slogans they affix to the walls of the ministry.

“No uterus — no opinion.”
“My body, my rules.”
“Abortion for all — women decide.”

Continued: https://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/the-next-battleground-for-abortion-rights-morocco/96108

Protest held outside trial of Moroccan journalist accused of illegal abortion

Protest held outside trial of Moroccan journalist accused of illegal abortion
Hajar Raissouni says charges are fabricated and motivated by her work, which is critical of government

Ruth Michaelson in Cairo
Mon 16 Sep 2019

Demonstrators have staged a protest outside a court in Rabat to coincide with the latest hearing in the trial of a Moroccan journalist accused of undergoing an illegal abortion and having sex before marriage.

In a letter written from prison, Hajar Raissouni said the charges were fabricated and motivated by her work, which had been critical of the government.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/16/protest-moroccan-journalist-trial-hajar-raissouni

Moroccan activists denounce arrest of journalist on abortion charges

Moroccan activists denounce arrest of journalist on abortion charges

Reuters
Sep 10, 2019

RABAT – Moroccan rights activists on Monday demanded the release of a journalist facing trial on charges of abortion and sex outside marriage, saying her arrest was politically motivated.

Dozens of activists staged a sit-in outside the Rabat court before the first hearing in her trial, chanting: “What a shame freedoms are in danger, what a shame journalism is in danger.

Continued: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/09/10/world/social-issues-world/moroccan-activists-denounce-arrest-journalist-abortion-charges/#.XXgFZ2Z7lPY

SOLIDARITY REQUEST: MOROCCO – Moroccan journalist arrested for abortion and sex outside marriage

SOLIDARITY REQUEST: MOROCCO – Moroccan journalist arrested for abortion and sex outside marriage

by International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortio
Sept 10, 2019

Hajar Raissouni, a Moroccan journalist, age 28, was arrested by six undercover officers along with her fiancé leaving a gynaecologists’ office on 31 August after being accused of “sex outside marriage” and “consenting to have an abortion”, according to Amnesty MENA region. Other media reported she was accused of actually having had an “illegal abortion”, which both she and the doctor deny. The doctor and two of his staff, and anaesthetist and medical assistant who treated her, were also arrested. The doctor is accused of regularly providing abortion services and faces up to 10 years in prison. This has caused outraged across Moroccan media and social media, according to Figaro.

She has been held pending trial, which was set for 9 September 2019 in Rabat, but on that date the trial was postponed until 16 September. The major Arabic-language Akhbar Al-Yaoum for which she works published a medical consultation record proving the “absence of curettage”. She was treated for heavy bleeding, possibly a miscarriage, and not for an abortion, said Saad Sahli, her lawyer according to different reports. Her fiancé is a Sudanese academic, researcher and activist. One report says they had been married in a religious ceremony at her family home, and another that they were due to marry on 14 September.

Continued: https://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/solidarity-request-morocco-journalist-arrested-for-abortion/

Moroccan journalist denies charges of illegal abortion

Moroccan journalist denies charges of illegal abortion

Byamira el masaiti, Associated Press
RABAT, Morocco — Sep 9, 2019

A judge ruled that a Moroccan journalist remain in custody after she appeared Monday in a packed courtroom on charges that she had an illegal abortion after becoming pregnant while single.

The case has gained attention among journalists and rights groups.

The 28-year-old Hajar Raissouni has been jailed since Aug. 31. She denies having had an abortion and claims she was married to her Sudanese fiancé under Islamic law. The fiancé, a gynecologist and two others also were jailed.

Continued: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/moroccan-journalist-denies-charges-illegal-abortion-65489935

09.09.2019

Featured

News

Akhbar Al-Yaoum

Amnesty International

Fatiha Chtatou

Hajar Raissouni

jailing women for abortion

Moroccan journalist arrested on abortion charges

Moroccan journalist arrested on abortion charges
Rights groups urge authorities to release Hajar Raissouni

Sep 6, 2019
AFP

Rights groups urged Moroccan authorities on Friday to immediately release a journalist arrested on charges of having an "illegal abortion" -- an act her lawyers deny.

Hajar Raissouni writes for the Arabic-language daily Akhbar Al-Yaoum, which has a history of run-ins with the authorities.

Continued; https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/moroccan-journalist-arrested-on-abortion-charges.733657

Morocco – New Evidence Emerges in Journalist Hajar Raissouni’s Abortion Case

New Evidence Emerges in Journalist Hajar Raissouni’s Abortion Case
Hajar Raissouni was arrested for allegedly undergoing an illegal abortion procedure.

By Yahia Hatim
Sep 5, 2019

Rabat – Five days after Hajar Raissouni’s arrest, on August 31, new evidence has emerged causing more controversy around the case. A medical report, signed by Dr. Samir Bargach from Rabat’s Ibn-Sina Hospital, confirms that Raissouni underwent an abortion.

Additionally, the medical report claims that this pregnancy and abortion was not Raissouni’s first. According to the report she had undergone a previous abortion six months prior to the alleged procedure that prompted her arrest.

continued: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/09/281983/new-evidence-journalist-hajar-raissouni-abortion-case/

05.09.2019