No Joking with the King
For those of us from the USA or other Western democratic countries, making fun of President Bush or other politicians is not considered "hands-off". Consider how "Saturday Night Live" TV pictures various well known persons in a joking manner. No big deal.
However, in Morocco, no one makes jokes about the king. The king is "hands-off" and woe to the person who messes with King Muhamed the Sixth. As the article below shows, it doesn't matter how old or how young you are. It also shows that sports is not on the same level as Moroccan royalty. If anything, sports is a rival.
Moroccan youngster jailed for comparing king with FC Barcelona
Posted : Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:12:20 GMT
Rabat, Morocco - A Moroccan schoolboy has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for linking King Mohammed VI with the Spanish football club Barcelona, local media reported Friday.
Yassine Belassal, 18, slightly changed the national slogan when writing it on a school blackboard in the village of Ait Ourir near Marrakesh. "God, fatherland, king," the slogan goes, but Belassal wrote: "God, fatherland, Barca." The joke did not amuse the headmaster, who informed police. Belassal ended up sharing a Marrakesh jail with dozens of criminals, unable to pass his final exams.
The fate of the young man has upset human rights groups, which have protested to the justice ministry, while internet campaigners have called on Barcelona to intervene in favour of its fan.
© 2008 www.earthtimes.org, The Earth Times, All Rights Reserved
However, in Morocco, no one makes jokes about the king. The king is "hands-off" and woe to the person who messes with King Muhamed the Sixth. As the article below shows, it doesn't matter how old or how young you are. It also shows that sports is not on the same level as Moroccan royalty. If anything, sports is a rival.
Moroccan youngster jailed for comparing king with FC Barcelona
Posted : Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:12:20 GMT
Rabat, Morocco - A Moroccan schoolboy has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for linking King Mohammed VI with the Spanish football club Barcelona, local media reported Friday.
Yassine Belassal, 18, slightly changed the national slogan when writing it on a school blackboard in the village of Ait Ourir near Marrakesh. "God, fatherland, king," the slogan goes, but Belassal wrote: "God, fatherland, Barca." The joke did not amuse the headmaster, who informed police. Belassal ended up sharing a Marrakesh jail with dozens of criminals, unable to pass his final exams.
The fate of the young man has upset human rights groups, which have protested to the justice ministry, while internet campaigners have called on Barcelona to intervene in favour of its fan.
© 2008 www.earthtimes.org, The Earth Times, All Rights Reserved
posted by Carl | 10:57 AM
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