Culture

Moroccan court jails journalist 18 months over remarks about politician

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2024

A Moroccan court on Monday sentenced a journalist, Hamid Mahdaoui, to 18 months in prison after he was found guilty of accusing a prominent politician of fraud, a verdict that has sparked international condemnation from press freedom advocates.

Mahdaoui’s case has garnered international criticism because he is being prosecuted under Morocco’s penal code rather than the press code governing journalistic conduct.

His attorney Mohamed Hedach, told journalists after the judgement that Mahdaoui who is the editor in chief of Badil.info, will serve a 1.5-year sentence and be fined an equivalent of $150,000 after being found guilty of defamation.

Mahdaoui was prosecuted after a complaint from Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi following a video posted on his website accusing Ouahbi of corruption and fraud, both of which the justice minister denied.

The accusations, according to media reports, came after the royalist Party of Authenticity and Modernity, which Ouahbi headed, became enmeshed in controversy last year when an imprisoned Malian drug dealer implicated party members in a sprawling drug trafficking case that shook the North African kingdom.

Reporters Without Borders’ North Africa representative Khaled Drareni had in October, called the prosection of the journalist a “misuse of the justice system to intimidate and silence the press.”

Mahdaoui was imprisoned in 2017 after publicly throwing his support behind activists who led protests over social and economic inequities. He was also sentenced to three years for not reporting to authorities that a Dutch Moroccan man had told him arms were being sent to the protesters. He later said he didn’t report it because he didn’t take the information seriously.

Morocco has in recent years been criticized for imprisoning journalists and activists known for criticizing the government. King Mohammed VI pardoned and released the country’s three most prominent imprisoned journalists — Omar Radi, Taoufik Bouachrine and Soulaimane Raissouni — in July.

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Culture

South Africa finally unveils improved King Shaka statue at Durban airport

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2024

Isaac Dachen

After years of complaints by the public, South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has finally unveiled an improved version of

a long-awaited statue honouring legendary Zulu warrior, King Shaka.

Ramaphosa, who unveiled the new statue of the warrior alongside Zulu King, Misuzulu kaZwelithini, at the King Shaka International Airport in Durban, said the statue “marks the beginning of a renewed focus on cultural tourism, empowering local communities and attracting visitors to experience the depth of South Africa’s traditions, values, and stories.”

The 12-metre-tall figure of King Shaka depicts the man credited with uniting the Zulu nation as a warrior with a spear and shield and replaces a previous artwork that was criticised for making the monarch look like a “herd boy”.

Speaking at the ceremony, KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thami Ntuli, said:

“This statue of King Shaka stands as a testament to our shared commitment to cultural heritage tourism, which aligns with the government’s grand vision for preserving and celebrating our shared history.”

He went on to say the statue was a symbol of respect and gratitude to King Shaka, a leader who shaped history through innovation and strategic acumen, carving out a legacy that inspires not only the Zulu nation but the province of KZN.

“It is our shared heritage, and today, we stand together to celebrate it,” Ntuli added.

Ramaphosa described the statue as a symbol of unity, integrity, and leadership for all South Africans, expressing hopes that the figure would inspire tourists to learn more about the country’s heritage and history.

Shaka, who was in 1828, is credited with creating a formidable fighting force that dominated the Zulu region.

Culture

Moroccan star actress Sahar Seddiki blasts Royal Air Maroc for poor services

Published

4 days ago

November 10, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Moroccan star actress, Sahar Seddiki, has publicly blasted the Royal Air Maroc (RAM) after she said she was denied boarding a flight to Oujda despite arriving early and holding a valid ticket purchased a week in advance.

Seddiki, who is unarguably Morocco’s most popular actress, expressed anger at being offered no solution despite having an important event the following day.

While expressing her frustration in a live video on Saturday, the star described the experience as a “catastrophe,” highlighting that RAM sold more tickets than available seats and turned away passengers even though they arrived on time.

“I bought my ticket to Oujda and arrived to check in two hours early, but they still refused to let me board because the flight was overbooked. Can you believe this? Is this acceptable? Is Royal Air Maroc mocking Moroccans by selling tickets when flights are already full?” Seddiki said in the video she shared on Instagram Live.

She also called on authorities to intervene, labeling the poor treatment by Royal Air Maroc as a disgrace and called on Morocco’s media to discuss the situation.

“This is outrageous,” she added, noting that the Royal Air Maroc team asked her to leave until the following day.

“I have an event tomorrow- I’m being honored at the Oujda Film Festival! When I asked for a solution, they had nothing to offer but a delay that would make me miss my appointment,” she added.