Fresh anxiety over journalist's latest hunger strike

Reporters Without Borders has voiced its concern for the health of journalist Ali Lmrabet, who, already weakened by a 50-day hunger strike he ended on 24 June this year, began a new fast on 30 November. "We will hold the Moroccan authorities responsible for any deterioration in Ali Lmbrabet's state of health," said Robert Ménard, secretary-general of Reporters Without Borders. "He suffers from worrying neurological problems which have never been checked up on by a specialist. This new hunger strike could well worsen his state of health. We call for assurances about his condition and that his family will be able to visit him as usual," he added. When the journalists' sisters went to Salé prison to visit him on 2 December, prison staff told them that Lmrabet had locked himself in his cell and was refusing to see them. Surprised by this news, his sisters asked for a signed message from their brother confirming his refusal to see them. The prison officers never brought the message nor did the prison governor Abdelati Belghazi agree to their request for an interview with him to obtain news of their brother. A Rabat court sentenced Lmrabet, editor of Demain Magazine and Douman, to four years in jail on 21 May this year for "insulting the person of the king", "offence against territorial integrity" and "offence against the monarchy". His sentence was reduced on appeal to three years imprisonment on 17 June.