The heavy handed application of outdated press laws in recent years has given rise to a very negative reaction by the Moroccan and international community of journalists.Now it seems that the winds of change and modernity are blowing through the Moroccan system and the court decisions that imposed heavy fines and prison sentences may soon be a thing of the past.
Moroccan Communications Minister Nabil Benabdellah is to be congratulated and encouraged after his admission on Thursday that press code reform is "necessary".
In an interview for Version Homme magazine, he said his ministry is working with the National Press Syndicate and the Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Editors on a new code.
The minister said the future code "will both lift almost all prison terms and reform the systems of submission of a case before the court and newspaper banning," while guaranteeing "to every person the possibility to defend himself against the press, which can be found guilty of excess or reprehensible practices. We have lifted prison terms in about 20 out of 25 articles and are engaging in discussion with all the actors," assured the minister.
It can only be hoped that the Moroccan media work closely with the minister to encourage these long overdue reforms.
Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
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