Even when Morocco tolerates the existence of more critical MSM, and of bigger freedom of opinion, the Palace doesn’t accept yet the authentic role of the information. The power gives some freedom to the journalists of written press as only 1% of the population actually buys newspapers. And that freedom is only given to some newspapers, such as Tel Quel, Le Journal hebdomadaire, etc.
The obstacles and arbitrary reactions still exist. There are journalists and photographers who are objects of policial brutality and have their material confiscated. On Feb. 10th, 2009, 20 agents from security forces made an incursion in the offices of a Arab-written weekly newspaper Al-Ayam, because it had an unpublished photo of a woman, member of the Royal Family. The newspaper had asked for permission to publish it.
On the other hand, the Moroccan press code continues to maintain prison punishments for journalists. Its last modification on May 2002, provoked outrage between journalists. Although the prison sentences were significatively reduced (from 20 years to 5 years for attacking the “dignity of the King”), the principles remain. At the same time, the article 41 -the severest one- saw its sphere of influence widened: it punishes “defamation against Islam and the country’s integrity”. Although the power to forbid (or suspend) MSM has been attributed to judges, that is not sufficient in the Moroccan situation where justice is not independent.
(…) Access to information continues to be difficult and neither justice nor police respect the protection of secrecy regarding journalists’ sources. Moreover, some international MSM continue to be censored when its content is not agreeable. The no. 2991 of French weekly L’Express wasn’t able to enter Morocco (and after that, in Algeria and Tunisia) because of its main article and front page (Oct. 30th, 2008) which were titled: “The confrontation between Jesus and Mohammed. His itinerary. His message. His vision of the world”. The authorities supported their decision in the article 29 of the Press Code which authorises them to forbid publications “when they insult Islam, the royal regime, the territorial integrity, the respect to the King and the public order.”. More recently, on July 16th, 2009, the Communications Ministery has forbidden the no.975 (from July 9th, 2009, to July 16th, 2009) of the French weekly Courrier International.
via Marruecos mantiene restricciones a la libertad de prensa.
The no.975 of the Courrier International was forbidden because of this cartoon:
The text in French says “the wealthiest King of poor people” and has to do with the estimated wealth of Moroccan King: it has multiplied in less than 10 years by 5 (it was of $500 million in 2000, it is of $2.5 billions –€1.8 billions– in 2008).
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