Morocco’s Internet user jailed over criticising King Mohammed VI

A Moroccan internet user has been sentenced to five years jail for criticising King Mohammed VI on Facebook over the country’s normalisation of ties with Israel, his lawyer told AFP Wednesday 2 August 2023.

Said Boukioud, 48, “was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday for Facebook posts denouncing normalisation with Israel in a way that could be interpreted as criticism of the king”, El Hassan Essouni said, adding that he has appealed.

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KING MOHAMMED VI NORMALISED RELATIONS

Under the country’s constitution, foreign affairs are the prerogative of the monarch, King Mohammed VI. Morocco and Israel normalised relations in December 2020 as part of the US-backed Abraham Accords.

The Casablanca court’s verdict “is harsh and incomprehensible”, the lawyer said. He added that despite his client’s expressing rejection of ties with Israel, he had no intention to offend the king in doing so.

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The posts on Facebook dated from the end of 2020, when Boukioud was living and working in Qatar. He “deleted the posts and closed his account when he learned he was being prosecuted in Morocco”, the lawyer said.

Boukioud was convicted under Article 267-5 of the penal code, which stipulates a jail term of between six months and two years for anyone who undermines the monarchy.

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DO THE LAWS HINDER FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION?

But that sentence can be increased to five years if an offence is committed publicly, including by electronic means. Human rights activists say the law hinders freedom of expression, and its wording “does not specify exactly what might constitute an attack” on the monarchy.

Since normalising ties, Morocco and Israel have boosted cooperation in areas including security, trade and tourism. But not all Moroccans support this, especially since the rise to power last December of the far-right wing coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Many Moroccans also have strong pro-Palestinian sympathies. In a speech on Saturday marking the anniversary of his accession to the throne in 1999, the king reiterated “Morocco’s unwavering stance in support of the just Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people”.

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