Morocco: Professor known as ‘Doctor of the Poor’ sentenced to prison

A Casablanca criminal court has sentenced Rachid Cherkab, a professor and anesthesiology specialist at Ibn Rochd University Hospital Center, to one year in prison. Cherkab, widely known as the ‘Doctor of the Poor’ for his advocacy for low-income patients, was arrested directly from the courtroom following the verdict, despite previously being under judicial supervision.

The charges against Cherkab include defamation via digital media and impersonating a union official. The court also issued sentences for two other defendants: two years in prison for Abdellatif Saddar, the national secretary of the Democratic Health Union, and six months for a third individual.

The case has sparked significant public and professional solidarity. Supporters and human rights activists argue that the prosecution is a response to Cherkab’s previous complaints and whistleblowing regarding alleged corruption and mismanagement within the Ibn Rochd University Hospital Center. Advocates are calling for a serious investigation into the health sector irregularities Cherkab originally reported, rather than focusing on the defamation charges.