A Moroccan appeals court on Monday upheld the conviction of journalist Hamid El Mahdaoui, editor-in-chief of the news website Badil, sentencing him to 18 months in prison and ordering him to pay a fine of 1.5 million dirhams in damages to Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi.
The ruling confirms the verdict issued by a lower court in Rabat on November 11, 2024. El Mahdaoui was prosecuted on charges of defamation, public insult, and spreading false claims with the intent to harm, under Articles 443, 444, and 447 of the Moroccan Penal Code.
The case stems from content published by El Mahdaoui that was deemed defamatory and injurious toward the justice minister. The court found that the statements in question constituted “false allegations and harmful accusations intended to damage personal reputation.”
The verdict has reignited debate around press freedom and defamation laws in Morocco, where journalists and media figures have frequently faced legal challenges in connection with their reporting on public officials.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.