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WORLD NEWS Saturday 28 december 2019

Moroccan YouTuber sentenced to prison, journalist detained

By AMIRA EL-MASAITI widely revered in Morocco, stability in the Arab world,
Associated Press and criticizing the king is a adopted constitutional re-
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — criminal offense. forms in response to the
Moroccan authorities have Also Thursday, journalist Arab Spring, but the coun-
sentenced a Youtuber who and activist Omar Radi was try is still struggling with pov-
criticized the king to prison, detained in Casablanca erty, corruption and unem-
and detained a journalist- and charged with insulting ployment.
activist who defended anti- a judge. Radi's arrest was Freedom of expression is
government protesters in a apparently prompted by a guaranteed in the Mo-
tweet. tweet six months ago criti- roccan constitution, but
Freedom of speech advo- cizing a Moroccan court's with limits. Authorities say
cates say the moves Thurs- decision to hand maximum some social media users
day reflect growing pres- prison sentences to leaders are pushing those limits too
sure against those who use of mass demonstrations in far, sometimes for personal
social networks to express the poverty-stricken north- gain.
anger at economic and ern Rif region. In this Thursday, July 11, 2019, photo, people stand outside a But rights activists say au-
social problems. The Casablanca court re- court in Sale, Morocco. thorities are trying to cover
A court in Settat handed a fused to grant Radi bail Associated Press up their inability to solve
four-year prison sentence pending the next hearing Morocco's problems.
to Mohammed Sekkaki for Jan. 2, said activist Kha- fine. It was unclear why the corruption and abuse of In September, a Moroccan
referring to Moroccans as lid El Bekkari, who was in arrest occurred so long af- power and limits on free journalist was sentenced to
donkeys and criticizing King the court when Radi was ter the original tweet. speech, and he has con- prison on charges of under-
Mohammed VI, in a video charged. If convicted, Radi Radi was also part of Arab tinued to defend human going an illegal abortion
posted on YouTube in No- could face up to a year in Spring protests in Morocco rights since then. after becoming pregnant
vember. The royal family is prison and a 500 euro ($555) in 2011 that pushed against Morocco, long known for its while being single. q

EU chief warns that new Brexit delay might be necessary

Associated Press "I am very concerned take years to complete,
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Euro- about how little time we and businesses fear that
pean Union and Britain will have," European Commis- the U.K. could face a new
struggle to seal an agree- sion President Ursula von "no-deal" Brexit scenario at
ment on trade and other der Leyen told the French the start of 2021 if questions
aspects of their future ties business newspaper Les about whether tariff-free
after Brexit next year and Echos. "It seems to me that, trade with the country's
should consider extending on both sides, we should biggest trading partner re-
the negotiations beyond seriously consider whether main unanswered.
2020, a top EU official said the negotiations are fea- But British Prime Minister Bo-
in an interview published sible in such a short time." ris Johnson has insisted he
Friday. "I think it would be reason- would not agree to any
The U.K. is scheduled to able to take stock in the delays. Johnson who won
leave the EU on Jan. 31. If it middle of the year and if a solid parliamentary ma-
does, it will be the first time necessary, agree on an ex- jority in an election earlier
a country leaves the world's tension to the transition pe- this month, which helped
biggest trading bloc. Ne- riod," von der Leyen said. him push a Brexit withdraw- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen right,
gotiations between the re- As the leader of the execu- al deal through the lower speaks during the Commemoration of the 10th anniversary of
the Lisbon Treaty and the legally binding Charter of Fundamen-
maining members and the tive commission, von der house of Parliament, tal Rights in Strasbourg, eastern France, Wednesday, Dec. 18,
British government on fu- Leyen heads the EU institu- The Brexit bill contained 2019.
ture trade, fisheries, educa- tion responsible for Brexit amendments that bar the Associated Press
tion and transport relations talks and negotiating trade British government from ex-
can only begin after that deals on behalf of member tending the transition pe- Lisbon Treaty rule book, new extension to the de-
date and must conclude countries. riod beyond 2020. which governs how coun- parture process must be
by the end of 2020. Such trade pacts routinely Under Article 50 of the EU's tries leave the bloc, any agreed by June 30, 2020.q