Moroccan paper closed
Press freedom campaigners have criticised the Moroccan government for closing down an independent daily paper in Casablanca after it allegedly disrespected a member of the royal family. Media rights group Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the move, which follows the publication of a cartoon of the wedding of Prince Moulay Ismail, the cousin of King Mohamed VI, on 26 September 2009.
The newspaper's staff has been prevented from entering its offices this week, while editor Taoufik Bouachrine and cartoonist Khaled Kadar were interrogated for over 24 hours. The Moroccan national journalists' trade union SNPM has also condemned the government's action and claimed it is illegal.
Source: Panos London
