International Journalists respond to Nichane banning.

The International Federation of Journalists has reacted to the Moroccan decision to prosecute a journalist, an editor and the satirical magazine Nichane over its article on jokes about sex, religion and politics.

The International Federation of Journalists termed the response by the Moroccan authorities to last month's article in the magazine Nichane "exaggerated, disproportionate and absurd" and said it should lead to protests across the region.

The IFJ called for the dropping of charges against editor Driss Ksikes and reporter Sanaa Al Aji, who it said faced terms of up to five years on charges of attacking Islam and going against morals and customs.

"The prosecution of journalists for attempting to provide a serious analysis of Moroccan culture is a blatant attack on press freedom," said IFJ General Secretary Aidan White.

"The government must promote pluralism," he said in a statement. "It cannot decide to ban publications because some people take offence at a particular article. To do so has a chilling effect on press freedom in Morocco."

The Casablanca state prosecutor said the article in the Arab-language magazine represented an attack on Islam and went "against morals and customs", state news agency MAP cited a judicial source as saying.

The government has said Nichane would stay off news stands until a ruling by judicial authorities.

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news