Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Communication, stated that in order to “continue enhancing freedom of expression and media in our country, the ministry is engaging in the reform of the Press and Publishing Code, as well as supporting the independence of media institutions, training journalists, and promoting a culture of human rights in society as mechanisms to strengthen the role of the media in protecting and advocating for human rights.” He asserted that “freedom of expression and media in Morocco has made significant strides.”
Bensaid elaborated during a meeting of the Culture, Education, and Communication Committee at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, saying, “The challenges facing this freedom require ongoing commitment to provide a more liberated and independent environment for the press, contributing to the enhancement of human rights and the consolidation of democratic values.” He added that what he termed “the reforms in the media sector have contributed to establishing comprehensive foundations for the development of the media in all its components by providing an encouraging environment for journalistic practice.”
According to the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Communication, this has resulted in what he called “enriching the Moroccan media landscape, characterized by notable diversity, which is reflected in the media output covering numerous areas of expression and providing various cultural, political, and social components, both nationally and regionally, with opportunities to express their interests.” He added, “One of the indicators of press freedom is the increasing appeal of the Kingdom of Morocco, transforming it into a preferred destination for foreign media.”
From the perspective of the government official, international platforms “find a conducive climate for producing coverage and reports on various political, economic, cultural, and social issues,” considering that Morocco attracts “many international media outlets annually that follow Moroccan or African affairs by carrying out journalistic and media tasks in our country.”
The minister emphasized that “freedom of expression and media is one of the foundational pillars for enhancing human rights in Moroccan society,” noting that it “constitutes the mechanism that enables individuals and groups to express their opinions and convey information freely.”
He continued, “This topic is of great importance given the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing human rights and ensuring public freedoms, especially after the political and social developments Morocco has witnessed since the adoption of the 2011 Constitution,” pointing out that “the ministry plays an important role in establishing the legal and regulatory framework that guarantees an appropriate climate for exercising the right to freedom of expression and ensures respect for human rights in all aspects of media and communication.”
Bensaid highlighted, “In contrast, professional journalistic practice remains the primary factor in activating these principles, where journalists must adhere to the laws regulating the media field and respect the ethics of the profession that guarantee the integrity and objectivity of journalistic practice.”
The government official reiterated that “the balance between legislation and professional practice enables the establishment of a free media environment that contributes to enhancing human rights and developing democratic culture in our country.” He added that “solidifying the culture of promoting human rights constitutes a fundamental reference for the Press and Publishing Code and various legal and regulatory texts related to the media and communication sector, where the Press and Publishing Law passed in 2016 brought about significant changes in organizing the media sector; it abolished imprisonment penalties related to publishing issues and replaced them with moderate fines, reflecting the Moroccan legislator’s intention to protect journalists from imprisonment during their work.”
The minister noted the aim of “making public media a free and multi-voiced platform that can keep pace with national and international transformations, support public discourse, enhance cultural and linguistic diversity, and provide digital platforms that allow for broader audience participation, thereby reinforcing democratic values and diversity and delivering professional and innovative media services that meet the community’s aspirations.”
Bensaid emphasized that “one of the most significant new directions is entrenching intellectual and cultural pluralism as a fundamental base in news and dialogue programs.” He added that “the specifications obligate public audiovisual communication companies to provide content that considers the diversity of opinions and ideas by involving political parties, trade unions, and civil society in public discussions,” pointing out that “this plurality also encompasses the linguistic dimension, where programs are broadcast in Arabic, Amazigh, and other dialects, in addition to living foreign languages, to ensure access for various segments of society.”
The minister continued, explaining, “There is also significant importance in developing public discourse around national and international issues. This is achieved through producing and broadcasting opposing dialogue programs, investigations, and surveys that focus on political, social, economic, and cultural issues; with the aim of promoting constructive dialogue and contributing to the creation of an informed and engaged public opinion on current issues.”
