Morocco: Barça Fan Jailed for Superlative Statement

Many bloggers were shocked last week to learn that a young Moroccan man had been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for what seemed like such a minor “crime.” The young man, a Barça (FC Barcelona, a soccer team) fan, allegedly wrote “God, Nation, Barça” on the blackboard at his school. Morocco's motto is “God, Nation, King.”

Although FC Barcelona has already announced [es] they will support the young man and take whatever action is possible, precious little is known about his case.

Laila Lalami offers up information:

Moroccan judges seem to be in a competition to find out who will issue the most excessive, most ridiculous, and most embarrassing ruling for the country. The latest example comes from the town of Ait Ourir in the province of Marrakech, where a high school student named Yassine Belassal was arrested, tried, and promptly sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for insult to the king because he allegedly wrote “God, Nation, Barça” on the blackboard.

Morocco’s motto is ‘God, Nation, King’; Barça is the Spanish soccer team FC Barcelona.

Belassal is in his senior year and also a national champion in karate. He may or may not have had legal representation at his speedy trial; he may have written the motto on a wall outside or on the blackboard in class; he may have acted alone, or with a group of three friends; his last name might be Belassal or Ait Ben-Lassal—the facts of the case are somewhat unclear. What is clear, however, is that he is now in prison, serving a sentence at the Boulmharez jail, for what seems like a harmless case of football hyperbole.

Blogger Adilski takes a sharp look at the sentencing:

On a light note, a commentator on Al-Arabiya website said the teen was arrested because the king is a fan of Real Madrid. On a serious note, though, most probably the king was not aware of the incident when it took place. It must have been some angry teacher or principal who reported the incident to the Gendarmerie, who in their turn tried to “impress” and presented the kid to the court. Zealous and sycophant prosecutor and judge threw the kid in prison, hoping for few taps on the shoulder.

Moroccan blogger Ibn Kafka [fr] has questions about the case:

1- Peut-il être condamné à une peine d’emprisonnement, s’il s’avère qu’il n’est pas majeur?
2- Aurait-il été condamné s’il avait remplacé “Allah” ou “al watan” par Barça au lieu d’”al malik”?
3- La procédure pénale a-t-elle été respectée dans le cas de Yassine Belassal?

1 – Can he be sentenced to imprisonment, if it is not a major crime?
2- Would he have still been convicted if he had replaced “Allah” [God] or “Al Watan” [country] with Barça instead of “al malik” [king]?
3 – Has criminal procedure been observed in the case of Yassin Belassal?

The blogger provides an in-depth analysis of the case in French, musing on issues such as Belassal's age, the nature of his crime, and the laws surrounding it. He concludes that if Belassal is in fact a minor (a fact which has not yet been made clear), then Morocco has violated its obligations under the 1989 Convention on the Rights of Children.

In addition to the multitude of bloggers covering the case, a Facebook group has also been set up in support of Belassal. Stay tuned to Global Voices for more updates.

7 comments

  • Marokanski

    I totally agree with ”Adilski” it seems that it is a frustrated teacher, and when gendarm comes they have to report what happend so the situation went from a frind joke to a kaos, what about the people who says in morocco thet thier god is ‘money’ they should emprison them as it against the religious domestic moral???
    what a joke, you will see the king will pardon him.

  • Kamal

    It’s very ridiculous. I think the issue should have been treated at the level of school. The student should have been sensitized to the repercussions and consequences of his action by his teachers or the principal. Isn’t socialization the fundamental role of schools?? It’s very sad to transfer a teenager from school to jail. I wonder how would that affect the future of the student!

  • Abdelmajid

    I guess he is lucky he did not get the life sentence like other kids under the x king’s regime.

  • judech

    GOOD MORNING. TO U ALL.
    WE all no he made a mistake,but i gues is at of happinees, pls there reader may my appologe on behalf of him be taking.he is ur citysen he did not committe murder,that month u gave him is to big pls. am rfm Nigeria.

  • hicham

    This is why moroccan that live overseas don’t like to come home anymore. We love and miss our country but the morals of it and the standards are wrong, instead of worring about his little ego he should start by cleaning up his administration first and show some leadership.
    Grow up this is year 2008 who are you for me to kiss your hand??????????????

  • Ernest solomon

    hello all,
    we all know it a mistake and can be pardon, as far as it not a murder case.let keep centiment aside and call a spear a spear.he a barca fan and believe on barca as his king,let not take it into the nation constitution, after all he still a kid.if we start jailing kid of such because of mistakes, what do u think this country will look like in the fulture.please my apology to the king of morrocco,pardon and sent him free,he is your son,forget about sapotash of barca.
    BARCA 4 LIFE

  • […] He also stated to the same magazine that the Blogoma needs more commitment as it's the case in Algeria and Tunisia. This is a statement which may have to be revised because of the mobilization shown by the Blogoma during latest cases of Fouad Mourtada, Erraji and the Barça fan. […]

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