By Karima Rhanem
By Karima Rhanem
Morocco World News
Rabat, May 28, 2012
In his last editorial published on May 27 in daily newspaper Al Massae, a daily he founded 5 years ago, Moroccan journalist and columnist Rachid Nini, who has recently been released from jail, confirmed his decision to stop writing.
Explaining to his large audience of readers the reasons for his stepping back, Nini said: “Journalists should write about what needs to be said and not what others want to hear. Unfortunately, this type of writing leads you either to silence, isolation or to prison”.
He added criticizing the country’s judicial system and freedom of press: “I have been jailed for one horrible year, in a complete absence of a law that guarantees journalists’ rights to access information and protect their sources; and a non-independent and corrupted judicial system.”
At his release from prison on April 28, approximately 1500 Moroccans belonging to different associations, coming from different regions have gathered around Nini’s home in Benslimane to celebrate the release of their Moroccan freedom icon.
Yet, with Nini’s decision to stop writing, his daily column “Chouf Tchouf”, which sent him to prison, will keep going blank until further notice