Pegasus case: Morocco files an injunction against the German publisher

Ms. Zohour Alaoui, the Kingdom of Morocco’s ambassador in Berlin, filed an injunction application against the newspaper publisher “Süddeutsche Zeitung GmbH” on Monday in Germany for “false allegations in the context of a report on the alleged use of Pegasus” spyware by the Kingdom of Morocco.”

According to the request, “Süddeutsche Zeitung GmbH had alleged in several reports, partly as established facts, partly as suspicion, that the Kingdom of Morocco had deployed the Pegasus spy software and used it for spying on and eavesdropping on many public figures, journalists and politicians.” The Moroccan embassy in Berlin notes that The Kingdom of Morocco, firmly denies these allegations and that Pegasus spyware was never acquired and therefore never used.

Morocco filed this suit in Germany after suing Amnesty International, Forbidden Stories, Le Monde, Mediapart, and France Radio in France for defamation.

On July 22, Morocco filed its first defamation lawsuit against Amnesty International and Forbidden Stories, the organizations accused of hacking the phones of several national and foreign public figures using the Pegasus program.

Morocco also filed new direct defamation claims in French court on July 28 against the journal Le Monde and its director, Jerome Fenoglio, the news site Mediapart and its president, Edwy Plenel, and Radio France.

It should be noted that in an interview with the African magazine “Jeune Afrique,” the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation of Africa, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, confirmed that any person or body that has charged Morocco must present evidence or face the consequences of its false presumption before the courts.

In response to the ongoing media campaign alleging hacking of the phones of a number of national and foreign public figures via the information program Pegasus, Bourita emphasized that Morocco had chosen to place its trust in justice, both internally and internationally.

In addition to judicial proceedings in France and Germany, Morocco has taken its own steps to determine the veracity of the allegations leveled against it.

A group of well-known French experts is investigating the technical aspects of these allegations and will issue a special report on the subject.

 

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