Better Than Expected
The Morocco Report: Nichane Journalists Given Three Year Suspended Sentence
Morocco Report appears to break the news in the English blogosphere of the sentencing of the Nichane journalists:
Nichane editor Driss Ksikes and journalist Sanae Al-Aji were each handed a three year suspended sentence today for having published an article considered "defamation to Islam."In addition to the suspended sentence, the magazine was banned for two months and fined 80,000 Moroccan dirhams (about $9,320 USD).
Although the sentence is lighter than that sought by the prosecutor, it is a grim portent for freedom of the press when journalists are prosecuted for reprinting popular jokes.
See also Larbi (French) and the usual brisk commentary. As one commentator points out, the real battle now is to change the press law, which dictates imprisonment over expressions of opinion.
Update: Eatbees and View from Fez have further analysis; Morocco Report says that a change in the press law may be in the offing.
A change in the press law is in the works, and has been for some time. The head of the Press Union told me recently that he feels that they have made the most inroads this year and have developed a new kind of relationship with the Ministry of Communications.
Count on you to be on top of the news, Maryam! I hope that they do reform the press law, both for the sake of the citizenry and for the impression it would make here and elsewhere.