Moroccan Lawyer Sentenced for Online Insults Against Officials and Islam

It all started with the publication on the lawyer’s Facebook page of videos in which he made insults and accusations against several personalities, including the governor of Khémisset, the director general of the prison administration, the head of the provincial police district and his deputy, as well as current and former elected officials, reports the daily Assabah.

In his post, the lawyer not only insulted these officials, but also accused them of having expropriated 12-hectare plots of land that they would have shared among themselves. He also accused the police district chief of having falsified the report on the "strange" death of a police officer, and his deputy of having blown up his car. The defendant also accused a female caïd of having insulted him while he was in his office. He also claims to have responded to her in vulgar terms.

In his defense, the defendant, during the hearing, explained that he was angry when he recorded these videos, because of the insults the female caïd had allegedly made against him. As for the other accusations, the lawyer said that his words had been misinterpreted and that he had not intended to insult Islam or incite hatred, especially since he is himself a Muslim. According to the same source, the defendant implicitly acknowledges having insulted the security officials by accusing them of wanting to harm him, especially after the explosion of his car.

However, the Court acquitted the lawyer of the charges of insulting a constituted body, inciting hatred and insulting the Muslim religion. As for the other charges against him, the lawyer was sentenced to two months in prison. A judgment that did not satisfy the public prosecutor, who has appealed.