By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
CASABLANCA, Morocco – King Mohammad VI pardoned Fouad Mourtada, a Moroccan computer engineer imprisoned for creating a fake Facebook profile of the king’s younger brother, Prince Moulay Rachid. Last month, Mourtada, 26, was sentenced to three years in jail for “usurping” the identity of the prince by creating a profile of him on the popular social networking site.
During his trial, Mourtada insisted he meant no harm to the prince in creating the profile. He reiterated those sentiments upon his release. “I have nothing against the prince.” Mourtada said. “In fact, my act was done because of my admiration for him. I regret that it was badly interpreted.”
Mourtada said he was “fine” after his pardon and thanked his supporters who campaigned for his release. Mourtada’s arrest sparked free speech protests around the world. Many prominent Moroccan bloggers stopped writing in solidarity with Mourtada.
“Fouad’s liberation is a victory for justice and freedom,” said Mourtada’s lawyer Ali Ammar. “The king has done what the court should have done in the first place.”
The king granted Mourtada’s pardon along with 565 others just before the anniversary of the birth of the prophet Mohammed, a public holiday in Morocco, and a date on which pardons are often announced. The king did not provide any reasoning for his pardons.
Mourtada’s case caught the attention of the French based Reporters Without Borders organization. After Mourtada’s release, the group released a statement that said, “This is a great relief. Mourtada will be able to spend this holiday with his family tomorrow after 43 days in prison. Nonetheless, we regret that his release is the result of a royal pardon rather than a fair verdict and sentence. Moroccan bloggers will not be able to forget his imprisonment when they compose their blog entries.”
BBC’s James Copnall said that Mourtada’s case has shown that while human rights conditions in Morocco have greatly improved in recent years, the royal family continues to be off-limits for criticism and even parody.
King Mohammed VI is regarded as a descendent of the Prophet Muhammad, and to question his authority is seen as a challenge to his religious role as the Commander of the Faithful.
For more information, please see:
AFP – Moroccan King Pardons Joker Jailed for ‘Royal’ Facebook Page – 19 March 2008
Associated Press – Royal Facebook Usurper Freed in Morocco – 19 March 2008
BBC – Morocco ‘Facebook Prince’ Pardon – 19 March 2008
CNN – King Pardons Morocco Facebook Imposter – 19 March 2008
New York Times – Facebook Prankster Released in Morocco – 19 March 2008
Reporters Without Borders – Press Release – 19 March 2008
Reuters – Royal Pardon Frees Moroccan Facebook User – 19 March 2008
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL19737224.html
