He was subjected to pressure from the authorities following the publication of a series of columns over the last few months in which he challenged fraudulent prosecution by public officials, the partiality of the judicial, the unfair trials of Islamic activists following the attacks in Casablanca, the serious violations of human rights and excessive counter-terrorist activities.

After being brought to the headquarters of the national judicial police brigade 28 April 2011 he was placed in police custody for two days before being presented to the Prosecutor of the King in Casablanca the 1st of May and accused of "outrages and violence towards a public officer." He was remanded and placed in isolation at Oukacha prison in Casablanca.

Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Opinion and Expression and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on 17 May 2011 to request that they intervene on Mr. Niny's behalf and ask for his immediate release.

Mr. Niny was sentenced on 9 June 2011 to a year of imprisonment and 1000 dirhams fine by the court in Casablanca for harming constitutional bodies and public figures. His lawyers have announced their intention to appeal this decision.

It is very likely that the investigation of which he is a subject is actually a direct consequence of Mr. Niny's profession as a journalist and his exercise of his right to express his opinions. The punishment of a year's imprisonment handed down on 9 June was intended to silence journalists, especially when they are critical of the corruption and abuses committed by important political and judicial figures.