Aziz Rabbah criticizes the defamation media system after a Spanish report was distorted and targeted with misleading headlines.
Former Minister Aziz Rabbah has launched a scathing attack on what he describes as “deceptive journalism,” claiming that certain outlets intentionally distorted the content of an internal Spanish report to implicate him in a scandal with no connection to him. In a statement addressed to the public on Thursday, November 20, 2025, he stated that these outlets “flayed the truth for sensationalism,” relying on similar and misleading headlines that suggest he is at the center of a scandal, while he is not even involved in the investigation.
Rabbah clarified that the original report pertains to a Spanish investigation into individuals intervening on behalf of Spanish companies, clearly indicating that Moroccan ministers—including himself—are neither involved nor accused. Nevertheless, Rabbah asserts that some sites chose to “play with implications” through provocative headlines that overshadow the essence of the report, reducing the issue to a simple phrase: “So-and-so knows such-and-such minister.”
In his elucidation, Rabbah emphasized that the Spanish delegation’s visit was official, involving the Prime Minister and several ministers, and that the report discusses major infrastructure projects, not solely the Kenitra port project. He added that this project was officially postponed in 2015 and that it is normal for ministers to meet with both foreign and Moroccan companies interested in projects.
Expressing evident displeasure, Rabbah noted that some outlets deliberately omitted a crucial paragraph from the report that confirms Moroccan ministers’ lack of involvement in the investigation, suggesting that “the intention was clear: defamation above all.” He added that he had left the ministry two years before the mentioned events and that most major contracts during his tenure were awarded to Moroccan companies thanks to the national preference policy he implemented since 2012.
Rabbah concluded his statement with a direct message to these outlets, asserting that they “will not obscure the truth or genuine corruption files in our country no matter how hard they try,” while praising one outlet that retracted its article after realizing the extent of its misleading content.
This incident highlights the growing threat of defamation media that focuses on generating “buzz” by targeting officials and politicians with malicious rumors and baseless information. He clarified that this method not only harms the individuals involved but also undermines public trust and distorts public discourse, calling for a serious response to this media excess that threatens the integrity and ethics of the profession above all else.
