فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
The Agadir Court of First Instance issued a ruling on Tuesday sentencing a man in his thirties to six months in prison with a suspended sentence and a fine of 2,000 dirhams, following a Facebook post deemed threatening against the head of government, Aziz Akhannouch, amid social unrest linked to rising living costs.
The verdict was delivered in a public hearing attended by the accused, with the complainant withdrawing the lawsuit and the defendant being held responsible for legal fees.
This case attracted significant attention from the media and human rights advocates, reigniting the debate over the limits of freedom of expression in Morocco.
According to local sources, the case originated from a protest post on Facebook in which the defendant expressed frustration over deteriorating living conditions and soaring prices. The post, written in both Arabic and Amazigh, included strong language considered by authorities as inciting and threatening, prompting Prime Minister Akhannouch to file a complaint as the direct victim.
However, Akhannouch’s withdrawal of the complaint shortly before the ruling helped ease the legal process, despite the case having already sparked a wave of online solidarity.
Many internet users defended the young man as a voice expressing popular distress over inflation and economic hardship rather than as a criminal deserving punishment.
This case highlights the delicate balance between freedom of expression and public security in Morocco amid current social and economic challenges.
