The Casablanca Appeals Court upheld the initial ruling against journalist Hamid Mahdouhi on Monday, June 30, sentencing him to one and a half years in prison and ordering him to pay a civil compensation of 1.5 million dirhams to Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi.
The initial court had convicted Mahdouhi last November on charges related to “broadcasting and distributing false claims and facts with the intent to defame,” as well as “public insult and defamation,” based on articles 443, 444, and 447 of the Penal Code.
The case arose from statements Mahdouhi published on his YouTube channel, which the Justice Minister deemed offensive to his dignity and reputation, prompting him to seek legal action.
The Appeals Court’s decision reinforces the initial judgment and solidifies the judiciary’s approach in dealing with cases related to publishing and digital content that provoke debate in media and human rights circles.
