(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Communications Minister Mohammed Achaari, RSF protested the distribution ban imposed on the French dailies “Libération” and “Le Monde”. “This decision demonstrates yet again that the authorities do not hesitate to censor foreign newspapers when they tackle subjects that could embarrass the royal family,” stated Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Communications Minister Mohammed Achaari, RSF protested the distribution ban imposed on the French dailies “Libération” and “Le Monde”. “This decision demonstrates yet again that the authorities do not hesitate to censor foreign newspapers when they tackle subjects that could embarrass the royal family,” stated Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. “No fewer than nine newspapers, including seven foreign publications, were censored in 2001 for reporting on subjects such as the Western Sahara, corruption, and especially the king’s personal life,” he added.
According to information collected by RSF, copies of the 22 January 2002 issue of the French daily “Libération” were not distributed to Moroccan newsstands on 23 January. The issue was withheld by the Sochepresse distribution company. The issue included an article titled “Moulay Rachid. The Moroccan king’s brother’s very expensive vacation”. The author highlighted Rachid’s hotel bill of US$10,200 (11,547 euros) per day in Acapulco. The article also noted that the king’s brother “was staying in the Quinta Real luxury hotel’s imperial suite and also occupied twenty-eight other rooms” and that he was “accompanied by sixteen persons, including three gorgeous models”. On 19 January, “Le Monde” was not distributed either. The French daily reported the same information, which was quoted from a Reuters agency story.
