(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 5 April 2006 OLPEC press release: Strategies aimed at destroying liberties and muzzling the free press amount to attempts to bring about the demise of “Journal Hebdo” OLPEC is extremely concerned by the recent attacks on freedom of the press in the Maghreb, particularly the […]
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 5 April 2006 OLPEC press release:
Strategies aimed at destroying liberties and muzzling the free press amount to attempts to bring about the demise of “Journal Hebdo”
OLPEC is extremely concerned by the recent attacks on freedom of the press in the Maghreb, particularly the serious assaults targeting newspapers and independent journalists and the narrowing of their margin of liberty.
In Morocco, on 4 April 2006, the “Journal Hebdomadaire” appeared before the Rabat Court of Appeal, which was examining the initial judgment that sentenced the “Journal”‘s executive to a heavy fine of 3 million dirhams (approx. US$330,000), surpassing any previous fine levied against a periodical. The appeal process is meant to determine whether the original trial was unfair. “The Journal” is accused of “defamation” for having criticised the seriousness of a study on the Polisario conducted by ESISC, an obscure institute based in Brussels.
The appeal process carried out on 4 April was also marked by serious human rights violations against the defence, whose lawyers were driven to walk out on the proceedings.
