Morocco

Until 2001, the Internet in Morocco was one of the freest in North Africa, with no curbs or blocking of sites such as those close to the Polisario Front. There are no laws about the Internet. The Moroccan media uses the Internet to get round censorship. In December 2000, three weeklies were shut down for reporting a scandal involving the then prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi. The three editors responded by posting the offending articles on the Internet, mainly on French websites. Access to the site of the weekly Rissalat al-Foutouwa, run by the student section of the Islamist group Al-Adl Wal Ihsane (Justice and Spirituality), was blocked by the authorities in April 2001 but restored in 2002. LINKS: - Human rights in North Africa