Morocco detains activist for claims country spied on France

Moroccan human rights activist Fouad Abdelmoumni was detained for allegedly spreading false information following a Facebook post accusing Morocco of spying on France in 2021, AFP reports. Authorities charged the 66-year-old with “reporting a fictitious crime” and “spreading false claims,” according to the public prosecutor's office. Abdelmoumni, once head of Transparency Morocco and a member of the leftist Alliance of the Left Federation party, is expected in court on Friday, his lawyer said.

In his Facebook post, Abdelmoumni claimed Morocco used Pegasus spyware for espionage against France, describing it as “blackmail” from a “weak state.” His arrest coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to Morocco, aimed at repairing diplomatic ties. Abdelmoumni’s supporters condemned his detention as “arbitrary,” linking it to broader harassment of activists. Morocco previously faced allegations of using Pegasus, developed by Israel’s NSO Group, to monitor high-profile figures, which it denies.