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| Africa North |
| Al Jazeera faces Moroccan charge |
| 2008-06-16 |
| Moroccan authorities have charged Hassan Rachidi, the head of Al Jazeera's bureau in Rabat, with broadcasting false information and conspiracy, a court source has said. Ibrahim Sebaa El-Layl, an official with the Moroccan Human Rights Centre (CMDH), was also charged on Saturday. Rachidi has been accused of disseminating false information relating to protests in the southwestern Moroccan port of Sidi Ifni. According to El-Layl, clashes during the protests resulted in five deaths. However, the authorities denied any loss of life, but said that 48 people had been injured, including 28 police officers. "The Rabat chief prosecutor's office ordered detectives to hold a preliminary investigation following the broadcast Saturday, by Al-Jazeera from its Rabat bureau, of information stating that there had been deaths during demonstrations in Sidi Ifni," the source said. "Upon completion of the investigation, carried out in accordance with the law, Hassan Rachidi and Ibrahim Sebaa El Layl have been charged with publishing false information and conspiracy, under the terms of article 42 of the press code." Their trial is to be held on July 1 in Rabat. |
| Posted by:Fred |