- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has strongly condemned the order issued last Saturday by the Minister of the Interior in Morocco to seize and destroy over 100,000 copies of two weeklies, TelQuel and Nichane magazines, which carried results of an opinion poll on King Mohammed VI's decade on the throne.
According to the Syndicat National de la Presse Marocaine (SNPM), an IFJ affiliate, the order was implemented while the magazines were in press. The ministry alleges that the publishers, the TelQuel group, contravened current legislation by publishing, in partnership with the French daily Le Monde, the results of an opinion poll assessing the last ten years of government since King Mohamed VI came to power.
"Once again the Moroccan authorities have scored an own goal. To mark the tenth anniversary of the king's accession to the throne, they have been trumpeting new liberties they claim he initiated in matters of press freedom and civil liberties," said Jim Boumelha, IFJ President. "By banning the publication of a mere opinion poll, the authorities have shown they are still prepared to behave as intolerant dictators," he added.
According to the syndicate, the decision was illegal as there is no legislative text that allows for the pulping of newspapers without a judicial order nor any legislation that forbids the publication of opinion polls.
Reports have showed that this particular opinion poll showed more than 91 percent of Moroccan citizens rated the last decade of the king's rule as either "positive" or "very positive".
"Opinion polls the world over, are well-proven tools to advance democracy and governance. By saying that their king cannot be subject to an evaluation by his own people, the Moroccan authorities have once again set back freedom of opinion and freedom of the press. They will be judged by their actions and will find it more and more difficult to convince the world that they are sincere democrats," added Mr Boumelha.
In 2007, Nichane magazine was suspended for two months and its Director, Driss Ksikess, and journalist Sanaa Al-Aji ordered to pay a fine of about US$8,000 by a court in Morocco following publication of jokes about Islam, sex and politics.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español