Prosecutions of Moroccan journalists rose in 2024
Figures released by Morocco’s Public Prosecution revealed that the country experienced a 147.6% increase in the number of journalists prosecuted in 2024 compared to 2023, according to a report by Yabiladi on 26th December.
The Public Prosecution attributed the rise to an increase in breaches of the Press and Publication Law, alongside the growing propensity of affected parties to pursue judicial action against journalists.
The report added that a significant number of cases do not reach the courts, either because full legal proceedings are not pursued or because complaints are retracted during the investigation phase.
An analysis of the cases revealed that 46 of the 52 complaints were lodged by affected parties through judicial channels. There were only two cases initiated automatically by the Public Prosecution.
The report claimed this pattern demonstrated the Public Prosecution’s commitment to criminal policy directives calling for restraint in cases against professional journalists, while allowing affected parties to seek alternative legal remedies.
It said exceptions are applied only in cases explicitly detailed by law or when the alleged actions represent a serious breach of individual liberties, public security, or public order.
Public prosecutors’ offices at primary courts also received 137 publication declarations in 2024. 43 of these were attributed to print periodicals, while 94 related to online publications.
According to the report, these figures reflect the dominance of digital media within the Moroccan media industry. Articles published online constituted 68% of cases, compared to 32% for print publications, outlining the transfer of media outlets to online platforms as their main form of communication.
Despite the increase in legal action, the World Press Freedom Index placed Morocco as the second-ranked country in the Maghreb Region in terms of press freedom on 9th December 2025. However, they positioned 120th out of 180 countries worldwide.
A report from Maghrebi.org on November 25th detailed the case of Moroccan journalist Hamid El Mahdoui, who published extracts from a meeting with the ethics committee of the Provisional Commission.
The extracts revealed offensive remarks made toward the journalist and described a rejected press-accreditation application on the grounds that Mahdoui had failed to provide evidence that journalism constituted his primary source of income.
Yabiladi, Maghrebi.org
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