Trial of Taounate doctor accused of insulting Islamic religion postponed

A. Latif Baraka: Heba Press

The correctional court in flagrante delicto of the primary school of Taounate has postponed, for the second consecutive time, the start of the trial of the doctor of “Taounate” accused of insulting the Islamic religion, after having rejected a request for follow-up in case he is released, and setting the end of this month of August as the third session of his trial on the charges against him.

The doctor was prosecuted by the public prosecutor for insulting the Islamic religion and the observer, who is under arrest, works in the village of Ba Mhamed, in the province of Taounate.

Sources close to the case said the number of lawyers registered to defend the doctor was around 30 lawyers from different agencies.

Article 267 of the Moroccan Penal Code punishes “anyone who offends the Islamic religion” with a prison sentence of six months to two years. However, the sentence can be increased to five years if the “insult” is committed in public, “including by electronic means.”