Morocco/Western Sahara: Release school student imprisoned for offending the King

Yassine Bellasal was sentenced on 28 September 2008 by the Court of First Instance in Marrakesh. In addition to the prison term, he was fined 1,000 dirhams (approximately 115 US dollars). He was charged with insulting King Mohamed VI after he wrote on his school wall "God, The Nation, Barça", in a play of words on the country's motto "God, The Nation, The King" -- according to his family, his intent was only to express his support for the FC Barcelona football team. Arrested at his home in Ait Ourir, 35 kilometres from Marrakesh, he was detained at the local Centre of the Royal Gendarmerie, where he is reported to have been beaten and threatened with electric shock torture. He was then brought before the Royal Prosecutor in Marrakesh on 21 September without legal representation and tried under article 179 of the Moroccan Penal Code, which prescribes imprisonment of up to five years and fines up to 1,000 dirhamsfor "any offence committed towards the person of the King or the Heir to the Throne".

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