The Court of First Instance in Kenitra issued a ruling in 2024 that acquitted a person of the charge of spreading false claims and facts, while imposing a fine of one million centimes for referring to the team president as a “donkey.”
This story is currently topping search engines worldwide, especially after being revisited by global platforms such as Not the Bee, part of the largest site specializing in satirical news.
Case Details
The story began when a local football fan in Kenitra, named Mehdi Amin Bouizar, published a series of posts on his Facebook account. He harshly criticized the management of the club president, accusing him of “leading the team towards the abyss” (or “disaster”). Among the repeated phrases was referring to him as a “donkey” several times.
The president filed a complaint, leading to the arrest of the fan and his prosecution on two main charges:
- Spreading and distributing false claims and facts with the intent to harm private life and defamation (slander).
- Public insult (public defamation).
Ruling and Details
The court completely acquitted the second defendant, Khalid Jamamou. As for Mehdi Amin Bouizar, the court ruled:
- Acquittal from the charge of defamation.
- Conviction on the charge of public insult after reclassifying the act.
The ruling: A final fine of 10,000 dirhams (approximately 1,000 dollars), with him bearing the costs and being compelled at a minimum, and his immediate release unless detained for another reason.
Notable Legal Principle in the Ruling
In the official ruling document, the court clearly stated:
“Describing a person as a ‘donkey’ through widely used telecommunications remains an insult, not defamation, and thus the elements of the misdemeanor of spreading and distributing false claims and facts with the intent to harm the private lives of individuals and defame them are not fulfilled.”
Thus, the court established a precise legal distinction: the word “donkey” — despite its derogatory and offensive nature — does not constitute “defamation” in the legal sense because it does not involve attributing a specific fact that can be proven or disproven. It is merely an abstract verbal insult, remaining within the realm of “public insult.”
Legal and Social Context
The ruling is based on articles of Moroccan penal law related to insults and defamation, which apply to social media as they do to traditional media. With the increased use of Facebook and others, the authorities have intensified the enforcement of these articles to combat “electronic abuse.”
In Morocco, describing a person as a “donkey” is considered a classic insult implying stupidity or poor management, although some see it as less severe than sexual or racial insults. The sports audience views such phrases as part of the sharp “stadium culture,” while others believe they cross the line from legitimate criticism to an affront to dignity.
