In the email:

One of the most positive recent developments in Morocco has been the rise of TelQuel Magazine, a French-language weekly publication that regularly push the envelope in shocking ways. Most prominent was a massive cover story a few months ago detailing King Muhammad VI’s salary. Other taboo-breaking cover stories have included pieces on re-interpreting the Quran, homosexuality in Morocco, and the country’s drug sub-culture.

For a while, TelQuel’s groundbreaking and thrilling journalism seemed to be a sign of progress toward genuine freedom of expression in Morocco – albeit with an unquestioning respect for the king’s right to rule. But yesterday Moroccan courts slapped the magazine with a 1,000,000 Dirham ($112,000) fine and arrest warrants for a staff writer and the editor-in-chief if they fail to pay…

The regime’s move comes ironically just as TelQuel published a special double-issue cover story highlighting “100 Reasons to be Optimistic for Morocco”. In the magazine’s long list, #36 reads: “Writing is free: Freedom of expression is without any doubt the greatest asset (and the most visible) of the Muhammad VI era…”

Courtesy of “…Or does it explode?” where you can read the rest of this story here.