Journalists union decries prison sentences in press cases
Morocco, Politics, 4/29/2000

The Moroccan journalists press union (SNPM) decried on Friday prison sentences in press and publications cases as incompatible with the rule of law and freedom of speech.

The SNPM released a statement expressing "astonishment" at the prison sentence against two Moroccan journalists sued by foreign and cooperation minister in a libel case. For the journalists union, the court decision to ban the two journalists from practicing journalism does not have any legal basis in the press code.

The union also rejected the use of legal texts, other than the press code, to undermine the discharge of the profession and recalled that it has submitted amendment proposals to change the penal nature of the press code.

After it renewed its adherence to the respect of professional ethics, mainly the need to undertake investigation before publication, the union argued that the press code provisions related to judicial action in press cases should be conform to the rule of law and guarantee the freedom of speech and press without restrictions nor constraints.

The union was reacting to the sentence handed in this week in two libel cases filed in Casablanca and Tangiers by foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa. Mustapha Alaoui, director of "Al-Ousboue" weekly was sentenced to a three-month jail sentence, a fine, a compensation to the plaintiff and was banned from practicing journalism for three years.

Two days later, a court in Tangiers sentenced Khalid Mechbal, editor-in-chief of "Al-Shamal" weekly to a six-month suspended jail term, a fine, a compensation and ordered him to cease practicing journalism for one year.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan journalist gets 6-month suspended jail term in libel case   (4/28/2000)
  Moroccan tabloid director sentenced to jail for libel   (4/27/2000)
  Moroccan MP loses case against journalists   (2/15/2000)

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