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Articles - Morocco

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Morocco

Rapper jailed for video insulting police

One of Morocco's most famous rappers and activists was handed a one-year jail sentence on 11 May for "insulting the police" through a video, report the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), Human Rights Watch and Freedom House.

Awards / Lebanon / Morocco

Moroccan journalist wins WAN-IFRA's 2010 Gebran Tueni prize

It has been five years since the assassination of Lebanese editor Gebran Tueni, killed by a car bomb on his way to work. In honour of Tueni's courage and commitment to freedom of the press, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) continues to give out a prize in his name to an editor or publisher from the Arab region. This year's recipient is Aboubakr Jamaï, the co-founder and former managing director of the weekly newspaper "Le Journal Hebdomadaire".

Morocco

Government suspends Al Jazeera among mounting violations

The Moroccan government has suspended Al Jazeera for what it alleged was unfair reporting that damaged the country's reputation, report the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Morocco

Newspapers crippled by legal action; journalist jailed

Fifty-seven IFEX members and other rights organisations joined the Arab Network for Human Rights (ANHRI) to condemn the recent targeting of Moroccan journalists who have been hit with lawsuits, high fines and jail sentences, threatening media diversity. Orchestrated by the monarchy, newspapers have been shut down as the government ramps up its repression of independent journalism, report IFEX members.

Morocco

Press freedom suffers new threats

New forms of press freedom violations are troubling Morocco, even as the media have won some advances in the decade of King Mohammed VI's rule, say the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Morocco

Three dailies heavily fined for criticising Libyan leader

Three independent Moroccan dailies have been slapped with heavy fines for "publicly harming" Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi and "injuring his dignity", reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Morocco

Journalists on trial for criticising Libyan leader

Five Moroccan journalists are facing trial in Casablanca for "publicly harming" Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi and "hurting his dignity", report the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Morocco

¡ACTÚE! AYUDE A MANTENER A UN ESTUDIANTE MARROQUÍ FUERA DE LA CÁRCEL

Morocco

AGISSEZ ! AIDEZ UN ÉTUDIANT MAROCAIN À RESTER HORS DE PRISON

Morocco

TAKE ACTION! HELP KEEP A MOROCCAN STUDENT OUT OF JAIL

On 29 September, Moroccan schoolboy Yassine Bellassal was sentenced to 18 months in prison - one for each year of his life - for writing the motto "God, my homeland and Barça" on the blackboard in his classroom, reports the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI). He modified the motto "God, my homeland and the King", the national motto of Morocco, to show his enthusiasm for the Spanish football team Barça.

Morocco

LIBERAN A BLOGUERO QUE CRITICABA AL REY

Morocco

LE BLOGUEUR QUI AVAIT CRITIQUÉ LE ROI EST REMIS EN LIBERTÉ

Morocco

BLOGGER WHO CRITICISED KING FREED

On 18 September, a Moroccan appeals court overturned a two-year jail sentence given to a local blogger for criticising the King and the royal family, report the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Morocco

DEUX ANS DE PRISON POUR UN BLOGUEUR QUI A CRITIQUÉ LE ROI

Morocco

BLOGUERO ENCARCELADO DOS AÑOS POR CRITICAR AL REY

Morocco

BLOGGER JAILED FOR TWO YEARS FOR CRITICISING KING

A Moroccan blogger who wrote an article criticising the King was sentenced to two years in jail after a startling short trial, report the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), International PEN's Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Morocco

INDULTAN A PRÍNCIPE FALSO DE FACEBOOK

Morocco

LE FAUX PRINCE SUR FACEBOOK REÇOIT UN PARDON

Morocco

FAKE PRINCE ON FACEBOOK PARDONED

Fouad Mourtada, who made international headlines last month for getting jail time for setting up a Facebook account in the name of a Moroccan prince, has been freed, report Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the anti-censorship network of bloggers Global Voices Online.

Morocco

ENCARCELAN TRES AÑOS A PRÍNCIPE FALSO

Morocco

TROIS ANS DE PRISON POUR UN FAUX PRINCE SUR « FACEBOOK »

Morocco

FAKE PRINCE ON FACEBOOK JAILED FOR THREE YEARS

A Moroccan computer engineer who set up a Facebook account in the name of Prince Moulay Rachid, the King's brother, has been sentenced to three years in jail, report Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the anti-censorship network of bloggers Global Voices Online and international news reports.

Morocco

¡ACTÚE! PEDIDO PARA QUE MARRUECOS LIBERE A DEFENSORES DE LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS

Morocco

AGISSEZ ! APPEL POUR QUE LE MAROC LIBÈRE LES DÉFENSEURS DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE

Morocco

TAKE ACTION! CALL FOR MOROCCO TO RELEASE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

Eight members of a human rights group in Morocco are in jail for "undermining the monarchy" through their protest slogans. Amnesty International is asking you to appeal to the Moroccan authorities for their release.

Morocco

PERIODISTAS CONDENADO POR PUBLICAR DOCUMENTOS SECRETOS

Morocco

DES JOURNALISTES SONT RECONNUS COUPABLES D'AVOIR PUBLIÉ DES DOCUMENTS SECRETS

Morocco

JOURNALISTS CONVICTED FOR PUBLISHING SECRET DOCUMENTS

Two Moroccan journalists who published secret government documents that revealed terrorist threats against Morocco were sentenced to prison last week, IFEX members report.

Morocco

¡ACTÚE! ENVÍE UN MENSAJE DE SOLIDARIDAD PARA PERIODISTA MARROQUÍ DETENIDO

Morocco

AGISSEZ ! FAITES PARVENIR UN MESSAGE DE SOLIDARITÉ EN FAVEUR D'UN JOURNALISTE MAROCAIN DÉTENU

Morocco

TAKE ACTION! SEND A SOLIDARITY MESSAGE FOR DETAINED MOROCCAN JOURNALIST

Send a message of solidarity for a Moroccan journalist detained without charge since 17 July allegedly for publishing secret government documents.

Morocco

MARRUECOS USA UN SOFISTICADO SISTEMA DE SUPRESIÓN, DICE EL CPJ

Morocco

LE MAROC RECOURT À UN SYSTÈME RÉPRESSIF SOPHISTIQUÉ, DIT LE CPJ

Morocco

MOROCCO USES SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM OF SUPPRESSION, CPJ SAYS

Moroccan authorities rely on a stealthy system of judicial and financial controls to keep journalists in check, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) concludes in "The Moroccan Façade", a report issued on 3 July 2007.

Morocco

TRIBUNALES ESTÁN PARALIZANDO A PRENSA INDEPENDIENTE, ENCUENTRA EL CPJ

Morocco

LES TRIBUNAUX PARALYSENT LA PRESSE INDÉPENDANTE, CONSTATE LE CPJ

Morocco

COURTS ARE CRIPPLING INDEPENDENT PRESS, CPJ FINDS

A pattern of punitive court judgements appears designed to pressure or financially cripple the country's independent press, a delegation from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has found.

Morocco

Donante holandés presenta Fondo Marruecos para Periodismo de Investigación

Morocco

Un donateur hollandais lance le Fonds marocain pour le journalisme d'enquête

Morocco

Dutch Donor Launches Morocco Fund for Investigative Journalism

17 January 2006

Morocco

LE MAROC RESSERRE L'ÉTAU SUR LES NOUVELLES RELATIVES AU SAHARA OCCIDENTAL

Morocco

IMPONE RESTRICCIONES A NOTICIAS DEL SAHARA OCCIDENTAL

Morocco

MOROCCO PUTS SQUEEZE ON WESTERN SAHARA NEWS

The Western Sahara conflict is little known outside of Morocco. A vast desert territory that has been occupied by Moroccan troops since 1975, it is home to indigenous Sahrawis who continue to resist occupation and demand political independence. Not surprisingly, the Moroccan government is not keen to have the world scrutinising its operations.

Morocco

LEY ANTITERRORISMO SOCAVA DERECHOS HUMANOS

Morocco

LA LOI ANTITERRORISTE SAPE LES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE

Morocco

ANTI-TERRORISM LAW UNDERMINES HUMAN RIGHTS

Morocco's progress in human rights over the past decade is being seriously undermined by the government's moves to fight terrorism, warns a new report by Human Rights Watch.

Morocco

LES MEMBRES DE L'IFEX DISCUTENT DE LA DÉFENSE DES MÉDIAS DANS LE MONDE ARABE

Morocco

LE ROI ACCORDE SON PARDON AUX JOURNALISTES EN PRISON

Morocco

REY INDULTA A PERIODISTAS ENCARCELADOS

Morocco

KING PARDONS JAILED JOURNALISTS

Morocco's King Mohammed VI has pardoned seven journalists, including jailed editors Ali Lmrabet and Mohammed al-Herd, report Index on Censorship, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Morocco

IFEX MEMBERS LOBBY FOR JOURNALISTS' RELEASE

IFEX members are keeping Morocco's press-freedom record in the news by calling attention to the plight of imprisoned journalists, including an editor sentenced today to three years in prison for "insulting" the country's king.

Morocco

RSF ISSUES WARNING ON PRESS FREEDOM

Moroccan publisher and editor Ali Lmrabet faces up to five years in prison for "insulting the person of the king." His printer recently told him it would no longer print his satirical magazines "Domain" and "Douman" because of pressure from authorities. And pan-Arab satellite TV station Al-Jazeera was recently banned from broadcasting in the country. Press freedom in Morocco, which had been improving since the late 1990s, is once again showing signs of flagging, a new Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) report reveals.

Morocco

CÓDIGO DE PRENSA MODIFICADO SIGUE SIENDO DEMASIADO SEVERO, DICE RSF

Morocco

UN PROJET DE LOI RÉVISÉ EST ENCORE TROP DUR, SOUTIENT RSF

Morocco

REVISED PRESS CODE STILL TOO HARSH, SAYS RSF

Journalists in Morocco can still be thrown in jail for up to five years if they commit press offences and foreign publications can still be banned, despite changes to a Press Code currently being considered by Parliament, says Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF). Under the amended Press Code, adopted by the Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Affairs and National Defence on 8 February but subject to final approval by Parliament, sentences for those convicted of defaming members of the royal family have been reduced from a maximum of 20 years to a maximum of five years.

Morocco

SPANISH JOURNALIST KILLED

Spanish journalist José Luis Percebal, a reporter for Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, has been found stabbed to death dead in his home in Rabat, Morocco, report the Committee to Protect Journalists and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN). CPJ says the body of the long-time Morocco correspondent was discovered on 12 February. He had been stabbed in the back the day before. There was no sign of a forced entry into Percebal's home, although his mobile phone was missing, adds CPJ. Authorities have yet to establish a firm motive for the murder.

Morocco

AUTORIDADES PROHÍBEN OTRO PERIÓDICO EXTRANJERO

Morocco

LES AUTORITÉS INTERDISENT UN AUTRE JOURNAL ÉTRANGER

Morocco

AUTHORITIES BAN ANOTHER FOREIGN NEWSPAPER

The government of Morocco has seized the 6 September 2001 issue of the Spanish newspaper "El Mundo," after the daily printed statements by the Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Josep Pique insinuating that the Moroccan police had ties to the (immigration) mafia, according to Reporters sans frontières (RSF).

Morocco

PRIMERAS RESTRICCIONES A INTERNET SE ENFOCAN EN SEMANARIO ISLÁMICO

Morocco

LES PREMIÈRES RESTRICTIONS DE L?INTERNET VISENT UN HEBDOMADAIRE ISLAMIQUE

Morocco

FIRST INTERNET RESTRICTIONS TARGET ISLAMIC WEEKLY

Moroccan authorities have taken their first steps to restrict Internet access by blocking the site of the weekly "Rissalat Al Foutouwa", voice of the student section of the Islamic association Al-Adl Wal Ihsane (Justice and Spirituality), according to Reporters sans frontières (RSF). Access within Morocco to the weekly's website (www.fotowa.com) has been blocked since early April. Authorities also seized an issue of the weekly on 6 April, even though its publication director has authorisation to publish. Since November 2000, printers and distributors have refused to print and distribute "Rissalat Al Foutouwa", reportedly due to pressure from the authorities. The newspaper's management was forced to find alternative means to print and distribute the newspaper, but decided to interrupt publication of "Rissalat Al Foutouwa" as of mid-April. Al-Adl Wal Ihsane's website (www.aljamaa.org) and the site of the Islamic association's leader (www.yassine.net) have also been blocked.

Morocco

EMPEORA EL CLIMA PARA LA LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Morocco

DÉTÉRIORATION DU CLIMAT DE LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE

Morocco

DETERIORATING CLIMATE FOR PRESS FREEDOM

"Attacks on press freedom have multiplied since the start of the year," and there has been an even further deterioration of media freedom over the past few months in Morocco, attest Reporters sans frontières (RSF) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Both foreign and local journalists have been the targets of free expression violations. These violations include preventing a Qatari journalist from exercising her profession in Morocco, placing three French journalists under house arrest and confiscating their equipment in the eastern part of Morocco, and the Minister of Interior's recent threat to ban a local publication, says RSF. In addition, two French-language weeklies and an Arabic-language newspaper have been banned and a number of other publications have had particular issues censored or blocked from distribution. Nearly all of the banned items either include information on Mohammed VI's perpetration of human rights violations or covered perspectives that challenge the King's actions.