(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has protested the sentencing of Ali Lmrabet, publication director of “Demain Magazine” and RSF correspondent in Morocco, to four months’ imprisonment and a 30,000 Dirham fine (approx. US$2,600; 3,000 Euros). “This sentence is grotesque. It is clear that by sentencing the journalist to a prison term, the Moroccan authorities are essentially seeking […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has protested the sentencing of Ali Lmrabet, publication director of “Demain Magazine” and RSF correspondent in Morocco, to four months’ imprisonment and a 30,000 Dirham fine (approx. US$2,600; 3,000 Euros). “This sentence is grotesque. It is clear that by sentencing the journalist to a prison term, the Moroccan authorities are essentially seeking to silence once and for all one of the rare newspapers that tries to inform freely,” stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “We ask King Mohammed VI to personally intervene so that this sentence is quashed and publicly commit to guaranteeing press freedom,” he added.
According to information collected by RSF, on 21 November 2001, the Rabat Tribunal sentenced Lmrabet, publication director of the weekly “Demain Magazine”, to four months’ imprisonment and a 30,000 Dirham fine. He was charged with “distribution of false information undermining or likely to undermine public order.” An article published in the 20 October edition of “Demain Magazine”, titled “The Skhirat Palace is reportedly for sale”, was described by the Rabat first instance prosecutor as a “fabric of false information and totally false allegations.” Lmrabet told RSF, “They want to humiliate us. It is a reflection of today’s Morocco.” The journalist, who decided not to appeal his sentence, is expected to be imprisoned within ten days. Lmrabet believes that the real reason for the legal action against him is the publication in his newspaper’s 27 October edition of excerpts from Jean-Pierre Tuquoi’s most recent book about Morocco, titled “The Last King”, as well as his articles about Moulay Hicham, the king’s cousin. The journalist’s trial, which got underway on 7 November, was deferred to 13 November by request of his lawyer.
In December 2000, Lmrabet’s weekly “Demain” was banned with two other publications, “Le Journal” and “Assahifa”, for “threatening the state’s stability” (see IFEX alerts of 11 January 2001 and 4 December 2000). In January, the newspaper began publishing again under the name “Demain Magazine”.
