Spanish press blames Moroccan gov't for courtroom incident

Madrid, Agency
Recent criticism of Spanish news media by Morocco's foreign minister helped spur Friday's attack on two Spaniards covering a court hearing in Casablanca, the president of the FAPE journalists association, Elsa Gonzalez, said here.

Reporters Antonio Parreño, a correspondent for Radio Television Española; and Eduardo Marin, who works for the SER radio network, were accosted as they tried to take photographs as the defendants, seven Saharawi independence activists, were brought in.

FAPE's Gonzalez pointed out that Moroccan Foreign Minister Taib Fasib Fihri accused the Spanish media of choosing to distort the reality in his country rather than reflect the current good relations between Rabat and Madrid.

"The statements have inflamed the spirits of Moroccan citizens," she said, maintaining that Friday's incident indicates press freedom "is not respected" in Morocco.

FAPE asked Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez to convey a protest to the Moroccan government over the abuse of the journalists in Casablanca.

Independent journalism "must continue being the engine of this company and of the profession," RTVE said in a statement after Friday's incident.

"Both professionals were doing their job of keeping citizens informed about the trial being held in Casablanca when they were attacked by dozens of people who attended the hearing, which made it necessary for them to be rescued by police," RTVE said.

Speaking after the scuffle, RTVE's Parreño said dozens of people surrounded him and began to punch and kick him.

The Saharawis, the indigenous people of the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara, have spent decades battling Morocco's drive to annex the territory.