is the Director of Lakome2, a Rabat-based independent online newspaper focusing on civil liberties, human rights, and the promotion of the rights of access to information and freedom of expression. He is also the co-founder, along with fellow human rights defender Mr Maâti Monjib, of Freedom Now – Comité de protection de la liberté de la presse et d'expression au Maroc (Committee for the protection of freedom of the press and free expression in Morocco), a human rights organization which was denied registration by the authorities in May 2014. On 24 December 2015, Ali Anouzla was summoned for interrogation by police in connection with comments made in an interview with the German newspaper Bild concerning Western Sahara. The human rights defender spoke about limitations on freedom of expression in Morocco, including repression of independent journalists, as well as corruption and human rights violations including torture. The charges are based on the fact that he reportedly used the term “occupied Western Sahara”. He denies using this term, maintaining that he was mistranslated. While Front Line Defenders welcomes the acquittal of Ali Anouzla over charges of “undermining national territorial integrity”, charges of support for, incitement of and advocating terrorism remain outstanding against him. If convicted on these charges, the human rights defender could face up to 15 years imprisonment. 29 January 2016 Human rights defender and prominent journalist Ali Anouzla charged for commenting on the dispute in Western Sahara On 21 January 2016, human rights defender and journalist Mr Ali Anouzla was charged at the Tribunal of First Instance of Rabat with “undermining national territorial integrity”. The charges were brought against Ali Anouzla in connection with comments made during an interview on Western Sahara. On 24 December 2015, Ali Anouzla was summoned for interrogation by police in connection with comments made in an interview with Bild newspaper concerning Western Sahara. During the interview, which took place in November 2015 in Berlin during the Raif Badawi Prize for Courageous Journalists 2015, the human rights defender spoke about limitations on freedom of expression in Morocco, including repression of independent journalists, as well as corruption and human rights violations including torture. The charges are based on the fact that he reportedly used the term “occupied Western Sahara”. He denies using this term, maintaining that he was mistranslated. The first hearing in his trial is scheduled for