Press Freedom Threatened as Journalists Face 'Defaming Islam' Case

An international debate has commenced over a court case in Morocco centred upon the issue of press freedom, as two press representatives have been accused of defaming Islam.

|PIC1|A Moroccan magazine, Nichane, has seen its editor and one its reporters taken to court for defaming Islam as well as damaging morality for an article containing religious jokes.

Upon the controversial article' release, the authorities in Morocco immediately closed down the magazine, and ordered that the magazines were taken off from newspaper stalls.

The two members of the magazine, Driss Ksikes and Sanaa al-Aji, face up to five years in jail and large fines if they are convicted, reports the Daily Trust publication from Abuja in Nigeria.

The article in question took an in-depth look into popular jokes centred on religion, sex and politics.

Following its release, the journalists have received death threats, despite the fact that they have publicly apologised, stating they in no way were making fun of religion, but simply "trying to see what light the jokes shed on Moroccan society".

Internationally, a number of leading press organisations have expressed their concerns over the developments.

Reporters Without Frontiers has said that the case is a serious blow for press freedom, according to All Africa.