Ministry creates commission to probe measures against press defamation of political figures
Morocco, Politics, 4/29/2004

Prime minister, Driss Jettou, has set up a ministerial commission to examine measures to be taken regarding publications' slandering and defamation of political figures, minister of Justice, Mohamed Bouzoubaa, said Tuesday.

Answering questions during the House of Advisors' weekly session, Bouzoubaa said "this issue was raised during the government council and that the prime minister has set up a commission comprising ministers whose prerogatives are in relation with this file."

The decision to create the ministerial commission was taken after allegations against a government member published by a weekly in an article titled "homosexuality and the political class." The article, published by "Akhbar Al Ousboua," accused Minister of Finance and privatization Fathallah Oualalou of "homosexual behaviour."

Bouzoubaa said it is crucial to face such practices of the media and create a similar commission in the high authority of the audiovisual.

Besides, the minister called on for the reorganization of the press, underlining that it should not be allowed that freedom of speech be used to undermine the dignity of people.

Bouzoubaa said it is important to be aware of the challenges Morocco is facing, stressing the need for journalists to distinguish between marginal issues and questions that are essential for the country.

He said several press bodies perfectly assume their mission while others have trespassed the limits of ethics, objectivity and the sacredness of information and made of their publications a means of blackmail and aggression.

This category, he said, is rejected by the journalistic milieu that is concerned by the respect of the profession's deontology.

Bouzoubaa noted that although legislation has given a great importance to the protection of the liberty of expression, it also comprises repressive provisions to face all attempts to undermine the honor of a person.

The article published by "Akhbar Al Ousboua" was also criticized by The Moroccan Press Union (SNPM) which denounced these "rumors and lies." On their part, the Press Club, the Moroccan Union of writers (UEM) and the Parliament's Finance Committee expressed support and solidarity with the minister of Finance and privatisation.

Previous Stories:
  Minister condemns invasion of privacy   (4/23/2004)
  Press Club, writers and MPs voice solidarity with defamed Minister   (4/22/2004)
  Union denounces newspaper allegations over Minister's sexual behaviour   (4/20/2004)

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