Morocco Jails Cartoonist Over Caricatures of King

A Moroccan court sentenced 22-year-old cartoonist Yasser Mounbir to four years in prison and fined him 40,000 dirhams (about $4,000) for “insulting the king” through caricatures of King Mohammed VI posted on Instagram, his defence lawyer announced on Sunday.

Authorities arrested Mounbir in June and subsequently convicted him of insulting both the monarch and public officials.

Lawyer Farouk Mehdaoui confirmed that the legal team plans to appeal the sentence.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights previously demanded Mounbir’s release, joining broader calls from local rights advocates to repeal laws restricting freedom of speech and to pardon individuals prosecuted over online posts.

Morocco jails cartoonist over caricatures of the king(News Central TV) — Morocco’s King Mohammed VI (centre) waving to a crowd in Rabat earlier this month. Credit: RTE

Under Article 179 of the Moroccan Penal Code, courts penalise defamation or insults against the king with prison sentences between six months and two years, while doubling penalties for offences committed electronically.

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Abisoye Adeyiga

Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.