5 January 2010

Alert

Sentences against editor and cartoonist upheld, then overturned


(CRNI/IFEX) - On 29 December 2009, AFP reported that a court in Casablanca, Morocco, upheld earlier jail terms and monetary fines issued against editor Taoufiq Bouachrine and cartoonist Khalid Gueddar.

The report says that each journalist must pay a fine of 4,400 euros, in addition to damages of 260,000 euros. Both were also given suspended jail sentences of four years.

Reuters, however, also reported that Prince Moulay Ismail dropped his case against the journalists, rescinding their fines and, apparently, the jail terms. The prince said that they had apologised.

The basis of the case against the two journalists was a cartoon that was printed in the 26 September issue of "Akhbar Al Youm" newspaper. In the cartoon, Prince Ismail was shown in what was seen by some as a Nazi salute and the Moroccan state star in the background was seen as a parody of the Star of David.

The authorities also closed down the newspaper, sending all staff home indefinitely. This is the first case of the authorities closing a paper in Morocco since the 1960s.

Source:

Cartoonists Rights Network International
Box 7272
Fairfax Station, VA 22039
USA
rrussell (@) cartoonistsrights.org
Phone: +1 703 543 8727
Fax: +1 703 543 8727
 

Stay on top of free expression news.

Sign up to receive the weekly IFEX Communiqué.


More on this case

Suspended jail terms, exorbitant damages award against newspaper publisher and cartoonist 3 November 2009 Paper closed amid increasing attacks on the press 1 October 2009

Morocco

Journalist barred from his office 29 December 2011 Moroccan journalist expelled 27 December 2011 Police question over 100 people in advance of parliamentary vote 25 November 2011 Appeal court upholds editor's prison sentence 25 October 2011 ANHRI condemns attack on headquarters of newspaper 14 October 2011 See all alerts: Morocco


 
The International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) is a global network of 95 organisations working to defend and promote the right to free expression.
Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.