Moroccan Activist Jailed for 2 Years Over Social Media Posts Criticizing Islam

"This is a very harsh verdict," said her lawyer, Habib Aadi, noting that the appeal to the Supreme Court is "still under consideration". The court of first instance in Oued Zem had sentenced blogger Fatima Karim, known for her publications on Islam, the Quran, and her comments deemed "offensive to Islam" on Facebook, to two years in prison and a fine of 50,000 dirhams on August 15.

She was prosecuted for sharing satirical publications in Arabic on her Facebook page, in which she "mocked" Quranic verses and hadiths of the prophet. This 39-year-old Moroccan activist has been in prison since mid-July. During her appeal trial on September 6, she apologized to "anyone who felt offended" by her publications, adding that she never had the "intention" to offend Islam.

Article 267-5 of the Moroccan Penal Code states: "Anyone who attacks the Islamic religion, the monarchical regime or incites to attack the territorial integrity of the Kingdom shall be punished by imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 dirhams or one of these two penalties only. The penalty incurred is increased to two to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 dirhams or one of these penalties only when the acts referred to in the first paragraph are committed either by speeches, cries or threats uttered in public places or meetings, or by posters displayed to the public view, or by sale, distribution or any means of publicity including electronically, on paper and by audiovisual means."