Tunisia bars Morocco's 'rebel prince' from democracy conference
Tunisia bars Morocco's 'rebel prince' from democracy conference
A Moroccan prince has been expelled from Tunisia after he tried to attend a conference on the North African country's political transition.
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Moulay Hicham [R] is known is the 'rebel prince' for his outspoken views [AFP]
Morocco's so-called "rebel prince" Moulay Hicham - cousin of King Mohammed VI - says he was expelled from Tunisia on Friday after arriving to attend an academic conference in the capital.
Hicham is known for his outspoken criticism of Morocco's political system, and had hoped to attend a conference on Tunisia's political transition organised by Stanford University.
Hicham is known for his outspoken criticism of Morocco's political system, and had hoped to attend a conference on Tunisia's political transition organised by Stanford University.
"Policemen came to my hotel shortly after my arrival yesterday (Friday) and I was taken to the airport," the prince told AFP.
"The policemen were embarrassed; they only spoke about a 'sovereign decision' and agreed to cancel the entry stamp on my passport," he added.
Despite informing him of the visa cancellation, Moulay Hicham said the police were "respectful and professional" and that he was put on an Air France flight to Paris.
"I had come to discuss the challenge facing Tunisia's democratic transition," he said.
He would not say why Tunisia may have ordered his expulsion.
Tunisian authorities have given no comment on the matter.
An organiser of the conference, Houssem Aoudi, described the action against Moulay Hicham as "a tough blow to Tunisian democracy".
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