Teen convicted for preferring soccer to his king
Moroccan youth given suspended sentence for 'disrespect' to national motto
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RABAT, Morocco - A Moroccan youth was given a suspended prison sentence for writing that he preferred a soccer club to his king — and now he fears the ruling could jeopardize his future.
An appeals court upheld Yassine Belassal’s conviction and one-year suspended sentence Wednesday for “disrespect to the kingdom’s national motto,” authorities said.
The 18-year-old karate champion had written “God, Homeland and Barca” on a classroom chalkboard, referring to his favorite soccer club FC Barcelona in Spain.
Morocco’s motto, however, is “God, Homeland and the King.” Defaming King Mohammed VI or the royal family is punishable by up to five years in prison in the North African nation.
Belassal had pleaded guilty to the charge, and said Thursday he was happy to have avoided jail time.
“But I’m worried for my professional future and for my sports career,” Belassal told The Associated Press. “I fear that the national (karate) team won’t want me now because of this judgment.”
His lawyer, Mustapha Errachidi, called the judgment unfair, saying the accusations against his client were murky.
Morocco’s Human Rights League also criticized the conviction. Its president, Abdelhamid Amine, said the group believes “he never committed any crime.”
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