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Newsletter n° 27

THE BUSINESS OF NEWSPAPERS

MEDIA LAWS

Prison Sentence Could Put an End to Moroccan newspaper

"If I have to serve my prison sentence it might be the end of the newspaper," says Mustapha Kechnini, director of the Moroccan weekly newspaper "Al Hayat al Maghribia" (circulation 6,000) which is published in the northeast town of Oujda. Kechnini was sentenced to one year in prison on 4 August for "incitement to violence" for the newspaper’s publication of a statement by an Islamist.

"If I have to serve my prison sentence it might be the end of the newspaper," says Mustapha Kechnini, director of the Moroccan weekly newspaper "Al Hayat al Maghribia" (circulation 6,000) which is published in the northeast town of Oujda.

Kechnini was sentenced to one year in prison on 4 August for "incitement to violence" for the newspaper’s publication of a statement by an Islamist.

RAP 21 spoke to the director at his offices in Oujda, as he has not yet started serving his sentence.

"It is a real mess. Even if I have already received my prison sentence, there will apparently have to be a new process. There is confusion over the validity of the sentence and over which law this case falls under," he said.

Kachnini does not have any idea about when a possible trial against him will take place. "They can come and get me at any moment. It can be tomorrow, in a few weeks or even a few months."

What is clear though, is that a prison sentence might mean the end for his newspaper.

"I have already spent one month in prison. During that time the paper was managed by the journalists working there together with my brother and a group of external supporters I have. But I am not sure the paper could survive if I was to undertake a longer prison sentence," said Kechnini who manages a staff of ten.

Ironically the month Kechnini already spent in prison meant a boost for his newspaper.

"The number of sold copies actually increased during my imprisonment. People were not afraid to buy the paper. Through buying it, they actually expressed that they have a different view than the government."

Two other editors also received prison sentences at the same time as Kachnini. Equally accused of inciting violence, Mohammed el Hourd, managing editor of weekly "Asharq" was sentenced to three years of prison which he is currently serving. The editor-in-chief of the same newspaper, Abdelmajid Ben Tahar, received the same sentence as Kachnini and is also awaiting clarification.

The two newspapers should also be suspended for three months, but according to Kachnini no action had yet been taken.

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