Morocco: Appeals Court Upholds Journalist El Mahdaoui’s Prison Sentence and Fine

On Monday, the Rabat Court of Appeals upheld the conviction of journalist Hamid El Mahdaoui, director of Badil.info, sentencing him to 18 months in prison and ordering him to pay MAD 1.5 million (approx. $150,000) in damages to Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi.

The original ruling, issued in November last year, found El Mahdaoui guilty of spreading false claims, public defamation, and insults, under Articles 443, 444, and 447 of Morocco’s Penal Code.

The case has ignited debate over press freedom in Morocco, with some viewing the verdict as a blow to free speech and others as necessary to protect personal dignity.

This decision reflects Morocco’s firm stance on digital content regulation, especially involving public figures.