The Diplomat
Several journalists’ associations issued statements yesterday in support of journalist Ignacio Cembrero, following the lawsuit filed against him by the Moroccan government, after he published that Morocco could be behind the spying on Spanish leaders with Pegasus and also his own mobile phone.
The Madrid Press Association (APM), to which the journalist, who has specialised in Maghreb news for 22 years and writes regularly for El Confidencial, belongs, is convinced that Morocco’s
In addition, the APM calls on the Spanish authorities to act “through the appropriate channels to defend the right to freedom of expression of journalists in our country when it is attacked by leaders of other states who have a long history of violating this right”.
The Federation of Spanish Press Associations (FAPE) joined the statement, stressing that “demands that only seek to intimidate journalists are an intolerable violation of the constitutional rights to freedom of expression and information”.
The Network of Professional Journalists’ Associations also demanded that the Moroccan government withdraw the lawsuit and “cease its attacks on journalists”, while urging the Spanish government to initiate “diplomatic pressure” to stop the complaint.
Reporters Without Borders also supported the journalist and called on the Spanish government to act to “prevent any attempt to restrict freedom of expression” and to shield the correspondent in the Maghreb from “abusive complaints that seek to silence journalism”.
For its part, Compromis yesterday requested the appearance of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, so that he can give an account of the measures that the Spanish government is proposing, or not, to “protect Spanish press professionals who have been sued, threatened or denounced” by the Alaouite kingdom, according to a written question signed by Senator Carles Mulet.
