Nichane

Nichane
The infamous "jokes" issue of Nichane that lead to its 2006 ban

Nichane (meaning Direct in Moroccan Arabic and Berber:نيشان) (formerly Aljareeda Alokhra) was a Moroccan weekly arabophone and darijophone (in Moroccan Arabic) magazine. It was a sister publication of the French-language Tel Quel magazine and published from September 2006 to October 2010.

Its editor-in-chief was Driss Ksikes.

Censorship

On December 20, 2006, Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou issued a statement prohibiting thus the diffusion and distribution of Nichane.[1] This prohibition came as a result of the publishing of "provocative jokes" related to religion, and the late King of Morocco, Hassan II.

Driss Ksikes and another journalist, Sanaa al-Aji, were prosecuted for "defaming Islam and damaging morality" and sentenced to fines of 80,000 dirhams each and three-year suspended sentences. Additionally, the magazine was banned for two months.[2] Both journalists defended their article.[3]

In December 2009, police destroyed 100,000 copies of the magazine after it printed an unauthorized opinion poll of Moroccan King Mohammed VI.[4]

In October 2010, publisher Ahmed Benchemsi announced the closure of the magazine, citing an advertiser boycott by royally-owned ONA/SNI holding group.[5]

References and notes

  1. ^ The Prime Minister prohibits the weekly magazine “Nichane”
  2. ^ "Moroccan court convicts Nichane journalists, shutters publication". Committee to Protect Journalists. 2007-01-17. http://cpj.org/2007/01/moroccan-court-convicts-nichane-journalists-shutte.php. Retrieved 2010-10-06. 
  3. ^ Hamilton, Richard (2007-01-08). "Morocco reporters defend article". BBC News (BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6239825.stm. Retrieved 2007-01-14. 
  4. ^ "Magazines Seized Over Royal Opinion Survey". France24. 2009-03-08. http://www.france24.com/en/20090802-magazines-seized-over-royal-opinion-survey-. Retrieved 2010-10-03. 
  5. ^ Fisher, Max (2010-10-01). "Morocco's Largest Arabic Newsweekly to Fold Under State Pressure". The Atlantic. http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2010/10/moroccos-largest-arabic-newsweekly-to-fold-under-state-pressure/63921/. Retrieved 2010-10-03. 


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