Economic weekly files appeal in case against fisheries minister

The "Finance News Hebdo" weekly has decided to file an appeal in the case against sea fisheries minister, Said Chbaatou.

General manager of the publication, Fatima Ouariaghli, said at a press conference the prosecution against the weekly is an abuse by authorities against independent press and against the freedom to inform. She said the ministry has not sent any clarification to the paper following the publication of a story which reports that a Mauritanian industrial tycoon has bought over 10 fishing licenses in Morocco, quoting a Mauritanian paper.

Ouariaghli's attorney said the story did not mention the sea fisheries minister but the court considered the publication of the minister's photo as an attack on his honor.

In the first instance court of Casablanca, the weekly general manager was sentenced to two months in prison, 15,000 DH (US$ 1,415) in fine and to pay 100,000 Dh (US$ 9,430) as a compensation to Chbaatou.