Media watchdog slams court ruling

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has expressed concern after a Moroccan court increased the prison sentence of a journalist to one year for inciting an unauthorised protest. A report on the World Bulletin site notes that Hamid El Mahdaoui, who heads the Badil online news site, was arrested in July at the start of a banned demonstration in the restive northern city of Al-Hoceima. He was initially sentenced to three months in jail after being found guilty of helping to organise ‘an unauthorised march’ and having ‘invited’ others to take part. An appeals court on Tuesday prolonged his prison term by nine months. RSF denounced the ‘incomprehensive’ verdict and said it was ‘appalled’ by the extension of the sentence.