(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 letter to Minister for Human Rights Mohamed Aoujar: M. Mohamed Aoujar Minister for Human Rights Rabat, Morocco By fax: 00 212 37 67 19 67 11 December 2000 Dear Minister We understand that your government has now prepared draft laws relating to the media as part […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 letter to Minister for Human Rights Mohamed Aoujar:
M. Mohamed Aoujar
Minister for Human Rights
Rabat, Morocco
By fax: 00 212 37 67 19 67
11 December 2000
Dear Minister
We understand that your government has now prepared draft laws relating to the media as part of its formal commitment to strengthen the right to freedom of expression and to bring its law and practice into line with international law. As you know, we very much welcome this process and hope that Morocco can play a leadership role in the region in terms of media law reform.
You will no doubt remember that ARTICLE 19 participated in a conference organised by your Ministry in October 1999 on “The Role of the Broadcast Media in the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights”. At that conference, we presented a paper on international standards relating to the media. In discussions at that time, members of your Ministry mooted the possibility of our working together on media law reform. We remain interested in this possibility and repeat our offer of any assistance which might be of use to you. In particular, we would be prepared to provide comments on draft laws from the perspective of international law or to provide officials with information about international standards in this area.
While we welcome your government’s commitment to reform and to promote freedom of expression, we also note with concern a number of recent developments which appear to contradict this commitment. In particular, we would like to take this opportunity to raise with you our concerns about the closure earlier this month of three newspapers and the withdrawal last month
of accreditation from a foreign correspondent.
We understand that on 2 December 2000 the Minister of Culture and Communications, M. Mohamed Achaâri, banned with immediate effect two French-language and one Arabic weekly – Le Journal, Demain and Essahifa – for criticism of state institutions and coverage of political events. The ban was made under Article 77 of the Press Law, which gives the Interior Minister and the Prime Minister power to ban publications which target “the political and religious foundations of the kingdom”. These bans follow bans on the import of Essahifa and Le Journal in April 2000. Bans of this sort are perhaps the most extreme form of restriction on freedom of expression, justified under international law in only the very most exceptional situations which are not present in these cases.
We also understand that early in November 2000, AFP bureau chief Claude Juvenal had his accreditation revoked, apparently on grounds of “unethical conduct hostile to Morocco and its institutions” and his “constant criticism and distortion” of Morocco’s political and economic reforms. We note that criticism of the State, its institutions and political developments are at
the very heart of the protection offered by freedom of expression.
ARTICLE 19 is concerned that while Morocco has made a firm commitment to reform in the area of freedom of expression and of the media, certain officials continue to apply repressive laws to restrict political speech. We sincerely hope that you can intervene in the matters noted above and use your influence to ensure that Morocco fully respects the right to freedom of expression. We also reiterate our willingness to assist the Moroccan Government with information about international standards so that any new laws affecting the media may conform to these standards.
We look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Very best wishes
Andrew Puddephatt
Executive Director
E-mail: andrew@article19.org
cc. M. Mohamed Achaâri, Minister for Communication and Culture
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M. Mohamed Aoujar
Minister for Human Rights
Rabat, Morocco
Fax: +212 37 67 19 67
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