2 Aug 2009

Magazines seized over royal opinion poll in Morocco

7:50 am on 2 August 2009

The Moroccan government has seized all issues of a leading French-language independent weekly because it contained a survey of how people viewed the king.

In a statement on Saturday, the Interior Ministry said it ordered the seizure of the issues of Telquel and an Arabic-language sister publication, Nichane, "following the printing of articles that violate the law."

Telquel managing director Ahmed Benchemsi said it was because the magazine contained a poll about King Mohammed.

King Mohammed marked the 10th anniversary of his ascension to the throne on Thursday. His late father, King Hassan previously ruled for 38 years.

Benchemsi said the poll showed that 91% of Moroccans are very satisfied or satisfied with the king's performance.