CPJ TO PRESENT ANNUALINTERNATIONAL PRESS FREEDOM AWARDS
New York, September 25, 2003—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) will honor four journalists—from Afghanistan, Russia, Morocco, and Cuba—with the 2003 International Press Freedom Awards in November. Abdul Samay Hamed (Afghanistan), Aboubakr Jamai (Morocco), Musa Muradov (Russia), and Manuel Vázquez Portal (Cuba) have suffered serious reprisals for daring to report with independence and authority in…
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…
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,…
Imprisoned journalist hospitalized
New York, June 2, 2003—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is concerned about the health of Ali Lmrabet, director of two Casablanca-based weeklies, the Arabic-language Douman and its French sister publication, Demain. Lmrabet, who was sentenced to four years in prison on May 21 for “insulting the king” and “challenging the territorial integrity of the…
Journalist on hunger strike
New York, May 12, 2003—Moroccan journalist Ali Lmrabet, who began a hunger strike on Tuesday, May 6, to protest continued government harassment, is scheduled to appear in a court in the capital, Rabat, tomorrow to face charges including “insulting the king” and “challenging the territorial integrity of the state.” According to Lmrabet, in April, police…