Comments on: Morocco: Press Freedoms Backsliding

By: Welcome | Project on Middle East Democracy

Welcome | Project on Middle East Democracy — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:14:53 +0000

[...] Voices has a great summary of the latest press crackdowns in Morocco. There have been so many as of late that Ms. York will [...]

By: Aicha2323

Aicha2323 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:26:47 +0000

And the really puzzling (and interesting) thing about it is the battles they have been choosing. The flu??? A survey about the king with – what? – like a 90% approval rating?? The current wave of censorship is notable, terrifying and laughable (were the consequences not so grave for the journalists), particularly because the cases they choose for these retrograde, draconian responses are so arbitrary and minor. It illustrates vividly the larger problem – the absolute failure of the judicial system to dispense anything remotely resembling justice.

By: Jillian York

Jillian York — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:22:59 +0000

Thank you Laroussi – I know the last bit is “old news” but the fine is new and important to share despite the age of the story itself.

Thanks for your comment!

By: Laroussi

Laroussi — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:15:14 +0000

Good article but the last note about Le Journal Hebdo is basically old news as you can see in the AFP article that you link to. The original sentence is from 2006 and the Supreme Court merely upheld the verdict, which was expected.

The Court did however lower the fine from 270,000 euro to 250,000 euro.

The ruling in itself follows the logic of the Moroccan legal system. What is really shameful is the actions of the ESISC “think tank”.

Anyone in their right mind would question the impartiality of their “report” on Polisario from 2005 since it tampers with and withholds basic facts about the conflict over Western Sahara, and this is exactly what Le Journal Hebdo did. The journal questioned the report and its impartiality. This is not a crime in most parts of the world. In Morocco however ESISC could sue for defamation.

Due to ESISC’s weird view on freedom of press, one of Morocco’s few independent journal now risks ruin and closure.

Shame on ESISC and their president Claude Moniquet!