Morocco and the independent Press

: AHMED TAIBI; 07/14/09

6a00d83452f66c69e200e54f1c55e68833-800wi Over twenty independent Moroccan newspapers and magazines, in an unprecedented show of discontent, published blank editorials to protest the government’s legal campaign to silence them. Since the press law reform of 2002, Moroccan media have seen an increase in stiff criminal penalties and civil damages against journalists and the publications they write for. So stiff, in fact, that if a country’s wealth were to be gauged by the fines it imposes on its free media, Morocco would be considered one of the richest countries in the world. The punitive judicial sanctions were levied for what the Moroccan authorities perceived as libeling government officials, institutions, and foreign dignitaries, undermining the nation’s image by reporting on the criminal involvements of government representatives, insulting Islam’s tenets, and disrespecting the person of the king.

Many believe the government’s perception to be skewed and that the court rulings were motivated by political retributions orchestrated by incumbent officials and affluent businessmen who collude among themselves to advance their personal agenda at the expense of the citizens’ and are incensed to see their despoiling of Morocco’s national treasures plastered on the front pages of dailies and weeklies; the government’s insistent push for ruinous fines against the independent media and jail terms against its journalists aims at garroting their ability to report to the public on the undemocratic practices of the Moroccan authorities.

The Moroccan government has found the use of the unabashedly partisan judicial system an effective tool to stifle the national debate and booby-trap the public’s right – a right guaranteed by the most basic of democratic principles – to know. Freedom of the press and expression, both inalienable rights in any democracy, are emerging as a threat to government officials disinclined to commit to democracy and whose usual nostrums to Morocco’s political, economic, and social woes are frequently criticized by journalists and citizens alike. At a time when Morocco’s advance toward democracy seemed possible, the governments of Abbas El Fassi and Driss Jettou, instead of fostering a less ominous environment within which archaic dogmas could be challenged, national political issues could be debated, and the population’s understanding of positive political engagement could be enhanced, created a climate that frizzles with intimidation prompting journalists to leave Morocco or stir clear of reporting on topics considered impermissible.

Aside from Al Ahdath Al Maghrebia, Al Massae, and Al Jarrida Al Oula recently slapped with exorbitant fines for allegedly defaming Qaddafi by labeling him a despot, other victims of the government’s visceral distaste for dissention and unbiased journalism come to mind: Ali Lmrabet for calling the Sahraouis in Tindouf “refugees,” Abdelaziz Koukas of Al-Ousbouiya al-Jadida for his interview with Nadia Yassine, Aboubakr Jamaï and Fahd al-Iraqi of le journal hebdomadaire for questioning the integrity of the Brussels-based European Strategic Intelligence and Security Center and its head Claude Moniquet’s pro-Moroccan report on Western Sahara, Driss Ksikes and Sanaa al-Aji of Nichane on their sociological study on Moroccan political and religious humor.

In the absence of measures to check our political leaders’ actions and balance their power, Morocco’s nascent independent media remains the only tool by means of which a notoriously opaque and graft-ridden government that lacks accountability could be refocused to do the bidding of the citizenry. The Moroccan government ‘selective approach to democracy is erosive and will render the country feckless and divided. There are no alternatives, then, to an independent media whose rights should be protected and its advocates encouraged instead of browbeaten and jailed. Or Khaled Al Naseri could do as Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal Al Maleki did when in a meeting with the Iraqi journalists’ union January of 2009, he pledged to give them free plots of land in exchange of positive coverage.

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Comments (5)

0 #1 Independent mass media in Morocco — Omar 2009-07-15 03:22

The independent daily and weekly newspapers in Morocco are the only hope for the Moroccans to uncover what is going in the country.Unfortu nately these are paying the bill heavily.There is a long way before our motivated journalists can do their task freely and professionally; this is due to the mentality of the Moroccan authorities who still consider journalists as enemies and not as partners.In a country where all the political parties are corrupt,the independent press is still the little air that people breathe.I hope our journalists won't give in and fall in the authorities mischievous trap.

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0 #2 COMMENT_TITLE_R E Morocco and the independent Press — Ash-lah 2009-07-15 11:51

When CNN reporters and political commentator Mr Novack published information identifying a CIA agent, a move that is deemed punishable under the law, the U.S government did not punish him, instead it punished a Bush administration official who was responsible for the leak. Likewise Mr Simon Hersh has acquired an unequalled reputation for writing article that not only had International implications such as the Abu Ghraib prison abuses, but also helped influence and correct some mistakes that the U.S have later admitted existed. I have to note that the Army solder who was the whistle blower for Abu Gharaib was promoted and protected under the law.
Now! everyone talks about these EMBARASSING stories as examples of how bad the U.S system of government and policies are , but no one seem to pay attention to the benefit of having strong and protected press in advancing the U.S society and correcting problems. Whistle blower protection-like laws and laws protecting the press in the U.S are what Morocco needs to advance,. Morocco's Press law of 2002 protect against embarrassing the monarchy, the government or anyone who is perceived to fall under these two categories including the Tractor PAM and his driver.

If the media continues to be undermined in Morocco, the story will countinue to be told in other mediums and Moroccans will look for the story somewhere else, which they are already doing with YOUTUBE and bl;ogs..

Free Media is not just a democratically recommended luxury, but rather a National Security and Human Development choice that has to be made.

Yes! Morocco should be careful not to open the flood gate to irresponsible journalism and outside interests by allowing them to control the editorial lines in morocco's Media.

Creating an environment where free, constructive and professional journalists can thrive will result in helping the Leader of Morocco namely the king, to have an Idea of what is being circulating in Morocco's streets as a mean to check if the information being brought to his attention by the government , the enter-circle , the palace staff , DGED,DST,5EME BUREAU.. is accurate and reflect the pulse of Morocco's society. This will also help him put pressure on these same officials and services to work harder.
The first step, the king should take in helping the country create a corps of Journalists Tsars and professional is to give an interview to a Moroccan Journalist in a Moroccan Media outlet, something that his father Hassan II has never done.
We grew accustomed to seeing our King being interviewed by French and foreign Journalists, which has created an inferiority complex in the Psyche of every Moroccan and we became slaves to everything Made "NOT" in Morocco. This Mind set has to be corrected and the Supreme leader hold the keys to changing it.

Request publishing this comment for the love of Morocco

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0 #3 COMMENT_TITLE_R E Morocco and the independent Press — Hmimarmad 2009-07-19 13:12

Ashlah,
If the king allows himself to be interviewed by a Moroccan journalist, then the person of the king is no longer sacred.
If this journalist asks the king a tough question, then he/she is not respecting the person of the king and therefore the government of Morocco has no choice but to file a law suit against the journalist to be thrown out in jail for 6 years.
The king is therefore not wanting to subject his citizens to such unusual and cruel punishement.
The king is only following the constitution of the Kingdom of Morocco, until we have a constitutional amendment, we should not ask to interview his Majesty.

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0 #4 COMMENT_TITLE_R E Morocco and the independent Press — 3alaoui 2009-07-24 06:12

Corruption, analphabétisme...

L'indépendance de la justice est régulièrement critiquée par la presse et les ONG marocaines, qui affirment que torture et détentions arbitraires continuent.

Et, en dépit des efforts des autorités, la corruption reste largement pratiquée à tous les niveaux. Selon l'Instance centrale de prévention de la corruption (officielle), le Maroc a "régressé de la 37ème place sur 90 Etats en 2000 à la 80ème place sur 180 en 2008".

Enfin, plus de 40% de la population est encore analphabète et les inégalités sociales perdurent. Et, dans le rapport mondial sur le développement humain 2007-2008 du PNUD (Programme des Nations unies pour le développement), le Maroc occupe une peu flatteuse 126ème place.

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