Journalist sentenced and imprisoned on criminal defamation charge

On 2 April 2004, Anas Guennoun, director of the weekly "Al Ahali", was imprisoned in Tangiers. The journalist was charged with criminal defamation and sentenced to 10 months in prison with no parole. He is also expected to appear before a Tangiers court on 21 April to face charges in another case. "Reporters Without Borders condemns (Guennoun's) imprisonment. Since the beginning of 2004, when all convicted journalists were granted a royal pardon, respect for civil liberties appeared to have improved in Morocco. In fact, on a January visit to Washington, Prime Minister Driss Jettou said his country had adopted a 'fast track' approach to democratisation. In this context, we cannot understand how a journalist can still be incarcerated merely for writing an article. We urge the Moroccan authorities to take the necessary measures to release this journalist and abolish prison sentences for press offences," the organisation said. Guennoun is the first journalist to be jailed in Morocco since 7 January. The Supreme Court confirmed his 10-month prison sentence for defaming a politician. The journalist also faces a second defamation charge, filed by the wali, or governor, of Tangiers. Five years ago, Guennoun wrote an article about the wali's private life.