Moroccan Journalist Hamid Mahdaoui Sentenced for Defamation

Moroccan journalist Hamid Mahdaoui has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined 1.5 million dirhams ($150,000) for defamation against Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi after accusing him of fraud in a video posted on his news website, Badil.info. Ouahbi denied the allegations, and Mahdaoui's prosecution has drawn international condemnation for being conducted under the penal code rather than the press code, which would not impose jail time. Mahdaoui expressed surprise at the verdict and is considering an appeal. His case highlights ongoing concerns regarding press freedom in Morocco, where the government has been criticized for targeting journalists and activists. This is not Mahdaoui's first encounter with the law; he previously served three years in prison for failing to report a crime against state security. The situation reflects a broader trend of repression against dissenting voices in the country.