Moroccan historian and activist Maati Monjib begins hunger strike after travel ban
Moroccan activist and historian Maati Monjib has announced that he has started a hunger strike after being barred from traveling.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Monjib revealed that he had been invited by Sorbonne University to deliver a lecture on «The Arab Spring in Tunisia 2011-2021». However, upon arriving at Rabat-Salé Airport today, he was prevented from leaving, despite possessing a valid ticket and passport.
«I remind the public that I have been banned from traveling since 2020, and my car, house, and bank account have been seized for more than four years», he added.
Monjib was among the activists granted a royal pardon on Throne Day last year. He has been involved in two separate legal cases. The first dates back to 2015, when he was initially sentenced to one and a half years in prison on charges related to «undermining the internal security of the state». The second case, from 2021, led to his detention during an investigation into «money laundering» charges, though he was later released pending trial.
In his post, Monjib denounced his travel ban as a «violation of the law and the royal pardon». He cited Article 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which limits travel bans and judicial supervision to two months, extendable up to five times. «In my case, it was never extended, making the decision illegal and unjustified. Since the prosecution is political, the charges are malicious and fabricated», he wrote.
Monjib has previously staged several hunger strikes, the most recent in 2023, protesting his suspension from his position as a university professor.
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