The Moroccan regime is known for trying to obtain state control over free speech in the country by shutting down critical voices. The country currently ranks place 133 of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index. Following the motto “God, Nation, King” the three so called “Red Lines” define delicate topics regarding religion, land possessions and the monarchy in Moroccan journalism. In connection with the interview we created a modified physical replica of the Moroccan press code in our project “Morocco – Under the State’s Eye” which is being exhibited.

Just as the Moroccan government targets journalists we targeted words within the press code that are related to the Red Lines “God, Nation, King” and lasered them out of the object. Every following page additionally includes the cutouts of its previous page eventually translating the hidden violation and systematic damage of free speech in Morocco and the legal space of its journalists.

In collaboration with Free Press Unlimited we researched the journalistic landscape in the country departing from the prominent case of award-winning Moroccan journalist and activist Omar Radi. Radi got detained and imprisoned after obtaining access to highly sensitive documents impeding him from publishing his investigative work on the Moroccan state.

photo's: Roel Backaert