RABAT – A huge number of Moroccan independent newspapers, backing Press freedom in the Arab world, condemned the ever-increasing restrictions, trials and extravagant fines, imposed over newspapers.
Some of those papers were referred to the court over charges of defamation and lodging into critical political issues.
The Al Ayam Arabic weekly was the last to be sued for publishing an article entitled The secrets of monarchy females during the reign of three kings’. Al Ayam tackled the corruption devastating the monarchy during the reign of Sultan Mohammed V and his son King Hassan II, who acceded to the throne in July 1999.
Nur Al Deen Moftah, Al Ayam editor and journalist Mariam Mokarram, the writer of the very article, are to appear before one of the Casablanca courts for charges of publishing false stories and unauthorised photos of the royal family.
"Such trials are nothing, but a bitter violation of freedom of Press," stressed Moftah. "A margin for freedom is a must for Morocco that always condemns tyranny and hails a new democratic era," he added.
Moftah and Mariam are expected to be sentenced to serve a month to a year in jail, in addition to a fine of Dh100,000 (Euro 9,000). Tell Kell’, a weekly newspaper, was cited to pay a fine of Dh1,96m (Euro 176,000) by a court of First Instance over charges of defamation. "The Moroccan authorities are trying hard to get rid of us, but we will never ever give in," Ahmed Reda Binshamsy, the Tell Kell’ editor said.
"Next Thursday, January 3, the paper’s financial stability and continuation are to be determined according to the verdict of the Court of Appeal," added Binshamsy. Al Mashaal and Al Baydawi are charged in response to anti-Islam and nation statements," the Casablanca public persecution spotlighted.
