Nichane

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

Nichane
Editor-in-chiefDriss Ksikes
CategoriesNews magazine
PublisherAhmed Benchemsi
FounderAhmed Benchemsi
First issueSeptember 2006
Final issueOctober 2010
CountryMorocco
Based inCasablanca
LanguageMoroccan Arabic
Berber

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. Fadoua Benaich; Jesse Sage (17 January 2007). "In Morocco, a sad joke about press freedom". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  2. "Morocco's Nichane Folds Under Royally-Backed Advertiser Boycott". Jillian C. York. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  3. "Media Sustainability Index 2009" (PDF). Irex. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  4. "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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