Nichane

Nichane was a Moroccan weekly news-magazine brand published in Arabic and Moroccan Darija. It began publication in September 2006 under the name Aljareeda Alokhra before adopting the name Nichane, a Moroccan Arabic expression associated with speaking directly or plainly. The magazine was based in Casablanca and operated as a sister publication to the French-language magazine Tel Quel, giving the broader publishing group a vehicle aimed at readers more comfortable with Arabic and colloquial Moroccan speech. The publication positioned itself as a direct, accessible current-affairs magazine. Its use of Darija was significant in the Moroccan media environment because it made political and social commentary available in a language used in everyday conversation rather than relying exclusively on formal Modern Standard Arabic or French. The magazine’s editorial identity was closely associated with its editor-in-chief, Driss Ksikes, and with an outspoken style that addressed sensitive questions involving religion, morality, the monarchy and public life. Nichane’s short history was marked by repeated confrontations with Moroccan authorities. In December 2006, the government prohibited the distribution and circulation of the magazine after it published material described by authorities as provocative jokes concerning religion and the late King Hassan II. Ksikes and journalist Sanaa El Aji were prosecuted on accusations including defaming Islam and harming public morality. Each received an 80,000-dirham fine and a three-year suspended prison sentence, while the magazine itself was suspended for two months. The journalists defended the article and the publication’s editorial position. The magazine encountered another major censorship-related episode in December 2009, when police destroyed approximately 100,000 copies after Nichane published an opinion poll concerning King Mohammed VI without authorization. The incident highlighted the limits imposed on polling and public discussion of the monarchy and further weakened the magazine’s ability to operate normally. Nichane ceased publication in October 2010. Publisher Ahmed Benchemsi attributed the decision to an advertising boycott by ONA/SNI, a royally owned Moroccan holding group. The closure ended a four-year experiment in Darija-oriented weekly journalism. Although the brand is defunct, Nichane remains associated with debates about press freedom, language choice, censorship and the commercial vulnerability of critical media in Morocco.

Nichane was launched in Morocco in September 2006 as a weekly magazine published in Arabic and Moroccan Darija. It initially used the name Aljareeda Alokhra and later became known as Nichane, a term in Moroccan Arabic conveying the idea of being direct or straightforward. The publication was established as a sister title to Tel Quel, the French-language Moroccan magazine, and was based in Casablanca. The title’s editorial model combined news-magazine coverage with political and social commentary. Its use of Darija distinguished it from publications written principally in French or formal Arabic and was intended to speak to Moroccan readers in a more familiar register. The magazine became known for addressing subjects that could be politically and socially sensitive, including religion, morality and the monarchy. Driss Ksikes served as editor-in-chief, while Ahmed Benchemsi was identified as its publisher. Nichane quickly became involved in a major press-freedom dispute. On 20 December 2006, then-Prime Minister Driss Jettou announced a prohibition on the magazine’s distribution and circulation. The action followed publication of material that authorities considered provocative jokes relating to religion and Hassan II, the late king of Morocco. Driss Ksikes and journalist Sanaa El Aji were prosecuted for offenses described as defaming Islam and damaging morality. Both received fines of 80,000 Moroccan dirhams and three-year suspended sentences, and the magazine was prohibited for two months. The journalists rejected the accusations and defended the published article. The magazine later faced another confrontation with state authorities. In December 2009, police destroyed 100,000 copies after Nichane published an opinion poll concerning King Mohammed VI without the required authorization. This episode illustrated the restrictions surrounding public surveys about the Moroccan monarchy and caused a substantial loss of already printed circulation. Nichane continued for less than five years in total. In October 2010, publisher Ahmed Benchemsi announced that the magazine would close. He attributed the decision to an advertising boycott by ONA/SNI, a holding group owned by the Moroccan royal establishment. Nichane’s end reflected both the political pressures placed on critical journalism and the commercial dependence of print media on major advertisers. The magazine’s legacy lies in its attempt to make outspoken current-affairs journalism available in Darija and in its role in discussions about censorship, language, religion, monarchy and the limits of press freedom in Morocco.

• 2010

  Closure

  [1]Nichaneen.wikipedia.org

  Nichane ceased publication in October after its publisher cited an advertising boycott by ONA/SNI.

• 2009

  Copies destroyed over royal opinion poll

  [1]Nichaneen.wikipedia.org

  Police destroyed approximately 100,000 copies after the magazine printed an unauthorized opinion poll about King Mohammed VI.

• 2006

  Launch as Aljareeda Alokhra

  [1]Nichaneen.wikipedia.org

  The weekly Arabic- and Darija-language magazine began publication in Morocco in September under the name Aljareeda Alokhra.

• 2006

  Renamed Nichane

  [1]Nichaneen.wikipedia.org

  The publication adopted the name Nichane, a Moroccan Arabic expression associated with direct or straightforward speech.

• 2006

  Government circulation ban

  [1]Nichaneen.wikipedia.org

  Authorities prohibited the distribution and circulation of Nichane following publication of material concerning religion and former King Hassan II.

A direct, accessible Moroccan weekly news magazine using Moroccan Darija and Arabic to cover politics, society and sensitive public issues.

• News magazine · 2006

  Nichane weekly magazine

  The core and apparently sole product of the brand was a Moroccan weekly news magazine published in Arabic and Moroccan Darija. It covered current affairs, politics, social questions and public debate, with an editorial style associated with direct commentary and attention to subjects that could be sensitive in Morocco. The title was published from 2006 until its closure in 2010.

• 2010

  Advertising boycott and closure

  Publisher Ahmed Benchemsi said the magazine closed after an advertising boycott by ONA/SNI, a royally owned holding group.

  Source

• 2009

  Destruction of copies over unauthorized poll

  Police destroyed around 100,000 copies after Nichane published an opinion poll concerning King Mohammed VI without authorization.

  Source

• 2006

  Prosecution and suspension over controversial article

  After publishing material described by Moroccan authorities as provocative jokes involving religion and Hassan II, Nichane was banned for two months. Editor Driss Ksikes and journalist Sanaa El Aji were fined 80,000 dirhams each and received three-year suspended sentences on charges including defaming Islam and harming morality.

  Source

Read more

• 2010

  Decision to close the magazineStrategy

  Background

  The publisher cited an advertising boycott by ONA/SNI after the magazine had experienced repeated official restrictions and circulation disruptions.

  Action taken

  Ahmed Benchemsi announced that Nichane would cease publication in October 2010.

  Aftermath

  The weekly magazine ended operations and became a defunct Moroccan media brand.

  Source

• 2006

  Adopted the Nichane nameOther

  Background

  The magazine began publication as Aljareeda Alokhra before operating under the Nichane name.

  Action taken

  It adopted a Darija name conveying directness and straightforward expression.

  Aftermath

  The Nichane identity became associated with the title's direct editorial style and use of Moroccan Darija.

  Source

1. 1Nichaneen.wikipedia.org