(RSF/IFEX) – On 29 December 2005, publication director Ahmed Benchemsi and news editor Karim Boukhari, of the weekly “TelQuel”, were sentenced on appeal, to a two-month suspended prison term and ordered to pay a fine of 800,000 dirhams (72,000 euros). In January, the two journalists, convicted of defamation in another case, are set to reappear […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 29 December 2005, publication director Ahmed Benchemsi and news editor Karim Boukhari, of the weekly “TelQuel”, were sentenced on appeal, to a two-month suspended prison term and ordered to pay a fine of 800,000 dirhams (72,000 euros). In January, the two journalists, convicted of defamation in another case, are set to reappear before the Casablanca Court of Appeal.
“Contrary to our expectations, the sentence is markedly disproportionate in its opposition to Ahmed Benchemsi and Karim Boukhari, in a trial that did not fully review the case. We hope nevertheless that in the least, the court of appeal will be less severe to ‘TelQuel’ during the second court process that will take place in January 2006,” declared Reporters Without Borders.
“If the initial verdict in this second case is pronounced against the journalists, it will mean a deathblow to ‘TelQuel’,” affirmed the organization.
The Casablanca Court of Appeal confirmed the two-month suspended sentence during the trial and reduced Ahmed Benchemsi and Karim Boukhari’s fine by 200,000 dirhams (18,000 euros). They refused the journalists a further appeal (with the “Cour de Cassation”).
Ahmed Benchemsi and Karim Boukhari had been initially sentenced on 15 August 2005 to a two-month suspended prison term, a fine of 25,000 dirhams (2,250 euros) and one million dirhams (90,000 euros) in damages for slandering deputy Halima Assali.
In a satirical column entitled, “Secrets of a brunette”, Karim Boukhari had retraced the evolution of Assali’s career, designated by the pseudonym “Asmaa” to avoid “claims of defamation.” The journalist told the story of how this woman he called an old “cheïkha” (popular dancer) went on to become a parliamentarian. Despite the use of a pseudonym, deputy Assali was recognized and instigated judicial charges.
“TelQuel” is also being accused of defamation in another case, for which the appeal process started on 3 January. In this instance against the president of a children’s aid association, the weekly “TelQuel” was ordered by the courts to pay 900,000 dirhams (81,000 euros) in lose “interest and damages” as well as a 10,000 dirham (900 euro) fine.
