Magazines Seized in Morocco

(Rabat, Morocco) Although Morocco is generally considered to have a greater degree of press freedom than other Arab world countries, by no means is it truly free.

Morocco's government has seized copies of two current affairs magazines containing articles which it said showed a lack of respect for King Mohammed and harmed public morals.

Ahmed Reda Benchemsi, editor of Tel Quel (As It Is) and its sister publication Nichane (Forthright), was called for questioning by Casablanca police late on Saturday under orders from the judiciary, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

A reporter at Nichane, who asked not to be named, said Benchemsi had questioned the usefulness of parliamentary elections next month in a country where the monarchy wields ultimate power.

In his annual speech to the nation on July 30, the king said he hoped the September 7 polls would reinforce democracy, and he would oppose anyone who questioned their validity.

So, in some sort of twisted logic, the king will reinforce democracy by making sure that opposition voices are silenced. Sounds familiar.

Notably, this is not the first occasion that press freedom has been suppressed in Morocco. Last January, the editor-in-chief of Nichane, Driss Ksikes, and a journalist, Sanaa al-Aji, were tried and convicted for publishing jokes about Islam. Each was given a suspended sentence and fined over $9,000.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.