Nichane

Nichane
Editor-in-chief Driss Ksikes
Categories News magazine
Publisher Ahmed Benchemsi
First issue September 2006
Final issue October 2010
Country Morocco
Based in Casablanca
Language Moroccan Arabic
Berber

Nichane (meaning Direct in Moroccan Arabic and Berber:نيشان) (formerly Aljareeda Alokhra) was a Moroccan weekly arabophone and darijophone (in Moroccan Arabic) news magazine.

History and profile

Nichane was published from September 2006[1] to October 2010.[2] Its editor-in-chief was Driss Ksikes.[1]

The magazine was a sister publication of the French-language Tel Quel magazine[2][3] and was based in Casablanca.[4]

Censorship

The infamous "jokes" issue of Nichane that led to its 2006 ban

On 20 December 2006, then Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou issued a statement prohibiting thus the diffusion and distribution of Nichane.[5] This prohibition came as a result of the publishing of "provocative jokes" related to religion, and the late King of Morocco, Hassan II.[1]

Driss Ksikes and another journalist, Sanaa al-Aji, were prosecuted for "defaming Islam and damaging morality" and sentenced to fines of 80,000 dirhams each and three-year suspended sentences. Additionally, the magazine was banned for two months.[6] Both journalists defended their article.[7]

In December 2009, police destroyed 100,000 copies of the magazine after it printed an unauthorized opinion poll of Moroccan King Mohammed VI.[3][8]

In October 2010, publisher Ahmed Benchemsi announced the closure of the magazine, citing an advertiser boycott by royally-owned ONA/SNI holding group.[4][9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Fadoua Benaich; Jesse Sage (17 January 2007). "In Morocco, a sad joke about press freedom". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Morocco's Nichane Folds Under Royally-Backed Advertiser Boycott". Jillian C. York. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Media Sustainability Index 2009" (PDF). Irex. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Shutting up shop". The Economist. Cairo and Rabat. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  5. ↑ The Prime Minister prohibits the weekly magazine “Nichane”
  6. ↑ "Moroccan court convicts Nichane journalists, shutters publication". Committee to Protect Journalists. 17 January 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  7. ↑ Hamilton, Richard (8 January 2007). "Morocco reporters defend article". BBC News. Retrieved 14 January 2007.
  8. ↑ "Magazines Seized Over Royal Opinion Survey". France24. 8 March 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  9. ↑ Max Fisher (1 October 2010). "Morocco's Largest Arabic Newsweekly to Fold Under State Pressure". The Atlantic. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
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