Region | Morocco
Moroccan blogger jailed for criticising government
A Moroccan blogger has been jailed for disrespecting the monarchy, rights groups said on Tuesday.
- Agencies
- Published: 08:22 September 10, 2008
Rabat: A Moroccan blogger has been jailed for disrespecting the monarchy, rights groups said on Tuesday.
Mohamed Erraji accused the government of supporting and furthering a culture of dependency where loyalty is rewarded in an article for online newspaper Hespress, adding that the country was suffering from the practice of handing out charity or gifts to a lucky few.
"This has made the Moroccans a people without dignity, who live by donations and gifts," he wrote.
The 29-year-old was arrested on Friday and stood trial on Monday in Agadir without the presence of a defence lawyer, according to a member of his family. He was given a two-year prison sentence and fined 5,000 dirhams ($626).
"He was judged in 10 minutes," said the relative who said he was present at the trial. "The judge passed sentence very quickly but we couldn't hear what was being said. He had no opportunity to explain himself."
Rights group, Reporters Without Borders, demanded his release, saying the sentence was "worthy of the most totalitarian states.''
Khadija Riyadi , the head of Moroccan human rights group AMDH,said Erraji's comments did not constitute an insult to the king but were political view's on how Morocco is governed.
"The basic elements of a fair trial were not respected," she said. "It happened so quickly that all his rights were flouted."
Government officials could not be reached for comment.
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