Moroccan blogger faces retrial after being freed on bail

Rabat: A Moroccan blogger, who was jailed for two years for disparaging the king, was released on bail on Thursday, court officials and human rights groups said.

Mohammad Erraji, 29, was given a two-year sentence and fined 5,000 Moroccan dirhams ($626) on Monday after being found guilty of showing disrespect for King Mohammad and the royal family.

An appeals court ruled on Thursday that a low court in the southern city of Agadir failed to "respect some proceedings" in the blogger's trial.

Gifts criticised

Erraji wrote in the online newspaper Hespress that Morocco had been wrecked by the king's practice of handing out charity or gifts such as taxi licences to a lucky few, which encouraged people to beg.

Police arrested Erraji last week and he was tried on Monday without the presence of a defence lawyer, according to his family and human rights groups.

"He was judged in 10 minutes," said one of his relatives.

Law experts said Erraji would be retried following the appeals court ruling. No date has yet been set date for a new trial.