Rabat – The ban on the weekly “Le Nouvel Observateur” and the magazine “Le pèlerine” is not a violation of freedom of expression, said on Sunday Moroccan Communication Minister, government spokesman, Mustapha El Khalfi in a press statement in response to the letter which was sent on February 11 by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
While reaffirming his commitment to respecting freedom of expression as universally recognized, the minister said that the banning of the weekly “Le Nouvel Observateur” and the magazine “Le pèlerine,” containing a representation of God and Prophet Mohammed, does not constitute a violation of this freedom.
The Minister reiterated that his department will not back-pedal on the decision to ban the two French weeklies as they contain drawings affecting the religious symbols of Islam.
It should be recalled that the Communication Ministry has not adopted a fixed position about the ban on magazines depicting God and Prophet Mohamed, said the statement.
“On the contrary, opting for dialogue among civilizations as a tool for mutual understanding in the spirit of the United Nations Charter, the Ministry of Communications is preparing to present a communication program with the French publishers, in a framework of openness and mutual respect, to raise awareness of the need to respect the religious values of Moroccans to avoid possible against-productive incidents in the future,” added El Khalfi.
