Attacks on the Press in 2003: Journalists in Prison
There were 138 journalists in prison around the world at the end of 2003 who were jailed for practicing their profession. The number is the same as last year. An analysis of the reasons behind this is contained in the introduction on page 10. At the beginning of 2004, CPJ sent letters of inquiry to…
King pardons jailed journalists
New York, January 7, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) welcomes the release today of jailed Moroccan journalists Ali Lmrabet, owner and editor of the weeklies Demain and Douman, and Mohammed al-Herd, editor of the Oujda-based weekly Al-Sharq. Both were pardoned today by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI after spending more than seven months behind bars.
CPJ talks about press freedom abuses in Morocco and Tunisia at D.C. briefing
New York, October 3, 2003—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) today took part in a briefing held by the U.S. Helsinki Commission in Washington, D.C., which focused on human rights conditions in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia. The six Middle East countries are currently considered “Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation” with the Organization for…
Three journalists sentenced to prison
New York, August 5, 2003—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns yesterday’s decision by a Rabat court sentencing three journalists to prison for violating Morocco’s new anti-terrorism law. Editors Mohammed al-Herd and Abdel Majid Ben Taher, of the weekly newspaper Al-Sharq, and Mustapha Qashnini, editor of the weekly Al-Hayat al-Maghribiya, were found guilty of “extolling…
CPJ concerned about media crackdown
Your Majesty: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned about the sharp erosion of press freedom in Morocco in recent months, including the arrest and criminal prosecutions of newspaper editors and the closure of independent publications. These actions contravene the internationally guaranteed right to freedom of expression and continue to undermine Morocco’s standing as a country that permits open media.
Journalist ends hunger strike
New York, June 25, 2003—Jailed Moroccan journalist Ali Lmrabet has ended the hunger strike he began on May 6 to protest his harassment and subsequent imprisonment by Moroccan authorities. According to press reports, Lmrabet ended the hunger strike after a visit by Moulay Hichem al-Aloui, a cousin of King Muhammad VI, who convinced him to…
Morocco: Three more journalists detained
New York, June 20, 2003—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is extremely alarmed about the detention of three Moroccan journalists, bringing the total number of journalists currently in custody there to five. Journalists Mohamed Al Herd and Abdel Majid Taher, editors at the local weekly newspaper Al-Sharq, and Mustapha Qashnini, editor of the local weekly…
Morocco: Conviction of imprisoned journalist upheld
New York, June 17, 2003—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is alarmed by the decision of an appeals court in Morocco’s capital, Rabat, to uphold journalist Ali Lmrabet’s May 21 criminal conviction, which resulted in his imprisonment and the banning of his magazines. According to Lmrabet’s lawyer, the court decided to reduce the prison sentence…
Calls for immediate release of jailed editors
New York, June 12, 2003—A delegation from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) met with Moroccan ambassador to the United States, Aziz Mekouar, in Washington, D.C., today to express its deep concern about the recent imprisonment of two Moroccan editors and to call for their immediate release. Ali Lmrabet, owner and editor of two weeklies,…