Moroccan Journalists Punished for Humor Article

Of all the Arab nations, Morocco is among the most liberal and civilized. So when it punishes two journalists for something they wrote, it is an exception rather than the rule. Regardless of its rarity, the decision by Moroccan officials to fine two journalists, give them a suspended jail sentence and close their publication for two months is a bad one. In the spirit of friendliest criticism, the Kensington Review objects.

Nichane is a new publication in Morocco, its name means “direct,” and its content is just that – direct. Driss Ksikes is the editor, and according to Reuters, he “published an insightful cover story by up-and-coming writer Sanae Al Aji [a woman] on humor in Morocco. The piece, entitled, ‘How Moroccans Laugh at Religion, Sex and Politics,’ cataloged popular Moroccan jokes and invited social critics to analyze the punch lines. As humor typically touches on social taboos, the article discussed jokes mocking the king, Islamist imams and attitudes toward women.”

This important thing to note, here, is that the article cataloged humor that is widely in circulation in Morocco today. The author and editor didn’t make up the jokes. They merely engaged in that oldest of philosophical questions, “Why is this funny?” Humor rests on truth and exaggeration. People without a sense of humor tend to be uncomfortable with the truth and don’t understand exaggeration.

The charges included offending the “fundamental values of Moroccan society,” and “damaging the Islamic religion, lacking proper respect for the king and publishing of writings contrary to public morals.” Note, they didn’t include “lying, distorting the facts or misrepresenting issues of importance.” Moreover, it is hard to see how analyzing jokes told in a society undermine that society’s values. Rather, they reflect them.

King Muhammad VI has been a progressive force in his kingdom, and he could do his nation and people a great service in pardoning the author and publisher. His nation has recently opened its first journalism school, and many of the school's graduates work for Nichane and for its parent publication the French weekly TelQuel. What could be of greater value for any nation regardless of religion than to have a press free to publish the truth about that nation? That the prison sentence was suspended is a hopeful sign, and one trusts the suspension of the publication won’t last.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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