Mohamed Ouzzine Accuses Officials of Phone Tapping Ahead of Morocco Elections
Casablanca prosecutors open an investigation into phone-tapping allegations made by Popular Movement leader Mohamed Ouzzine against his party, days before Morocco's September 23 legislative elections.
Casablanca's Court of Appeal Prosecutor's Office announced on Monday, September 14, 2026, the opening of a judicial investigation into statements by Mohamed Ouzzine, Secretary General of the Popular Movement (MP) party, who accused unnamed parties of targeting his party through "disloyal and intrusive" methods, including phone tapping, during a campaign rally in Berrechid on Sunday evening — just days before Morocco's legislative elections scheduled for September 23.
Background
Ouzzine made the remarks while campaigning for MP candidate Yassine El Saadi in Berrechid, saying his party was facing "systematic attacks" through covert means targeting its officials, and vowing that such tactics would not deter the Popular Movement from continuing its campaign. After a video of the rally circulated on social media, the Prosecutor General at the Casablanca Court of Appeal issued a statement announcing that an investigation had been opened and assigned to the National Brigade of Judicial Police (BNPJ).
The statement read: "In the exercise of its powers, and in order to guarantee the application of the law and the proper conduct of the electoral process, the Prosecution ordered the opening of an investigation assigned to the National Brigade of Judicial Police, to verify the accuracy of these allegations and establish the legal consequences that follow."
An Election Under Close Judicial Watch
The Ouzzine case is not isolated: on the same day, the Prosecutor General's office at the Kénitra Court of Appeal announced a similar investigation into statements attributed to a legislative candidate, who was accused of claiming his campaign was financed with proceeds from a large drug haul. The parallel probes reflect heightened prosecutorial vigilance against any attempt to unlawfully influence the vote, as authorities prepare to deploy thousands of observers to monitor the September 23 vote.
These developments come at a sensitive moment in the campaign: any doubts over the security of party communications or attempts at illegal influence risk undermining voter confidence in the integrity of the legislative race. The investigation also tests how quickly the Prosecution and the BNPJ can act on such allegations, with less than two weeks remaining before the vote.