Moroccan journalist fined 100,000 DH for defaming justice minister
The criminal court in Rabat has imposed a financial penalty on Hamid El Mahdaoui and ordered him to pay compensation to Abdellatif Ouahbi in a defamation case.
Moroccan journalist fined 100,000 DH for defaming justice minister
The 23rd chamber of the court of first instance in Rabat ruled on 2 June 2026 on a dispute between justice minister Abdellatif Ouahbi and journalist Hamid El Mahdaoui. The judges found the latter guilty on the sole charge of defamation, whilst acquitting him of other charges.
On the penal side, the sentence imposed is limited to a financial penalty of 100,000 DH. The defendant was cleared of the charge of violation of privacy through fabrication of damaging imputations, as well as for defamation committed publicly. He must nevertheless bear the costs of the proceedings.
On the compensation side, the court granted the claim of Abdellatif Ouahbi as the injured party. It set at 200,000 DH the total amount to be paid by El Mahdaoui in compensation for the harm caused.
The ruling must furthermore be published in the written press. Two separate publications must reproduce the contents of the decision in two consecutive issues within fifteen days following the date when the judgment became final.
Originally, the public prosecutor had sought prosecution for three offences: defamation, violation of privacy and public defamation. Only the first charge was ultimately retained by the trial judges.
Source: Medias24
Source: Google News MA