Nichane

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Nichane
Editor-in-chief=
Berber

Nichane (meaning "direct" in

darijophone
(in Moroccan Arabic) news magazine.

History and profile

Nichane was published from September 2006[1] to October 2010.[2] Its editor-in-chief was Driss Ksikes.[1]

The magazine was a sister publication of the

Tel Quel magazine[2] and was based in Casablanca.[3][4]

Censorship

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

On 20 December 2006, then

Hassan II.[1]

Driss Ksikes and another journalist, Sanaa El 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.[6] Both journalists defended their article.[7]

In December 2009, police destroyed 100,000 copies of the magazine after it printed an unauthorized opinion poll of Moroccan King Mohammed VI.[8]

In October 2010, publisher Ahmed Benchemsi announced the closure of the magazine, citing an advertiser boycott by royally-owned ONA/SNI holding group.[3][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c Fadoua Benaich; Jesse Sage (17 January 2007). "In Morocco, a sad joke about press freedom". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Morocco's Nichane Folds Under Royally-Backed Advertiser Boycott". Jillian C. York. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Shutting up shop". The Economist. Cairo and Rabat. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  4. .
  5. ^ The Prime Minister prohibits the weekly magazine “Nichane”
  6. ^ "Moroccan court convicts Nichane journalists, shutters publication". Committee to Protect Journalists. 17 January 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  7. ^ Richard Hamilton (8 January 2007). "Morocco reporters defend article". BBC News. Retrieved 14 January 2007.
  8. ^ "Magazines Seized Over Royal Opinion Survey". France24. 8 March 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  9. ^ Max Fisher (1 October 2010). "Morocco's Largest Arabic Newsweekly to Fold Under State Pressure". The Atlantic. Retrieved 3 October 2010.

External links