Moroccan schoolboy spared prison

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A Moroccan court has suspended a one year jail sentence previously imposed on a student after he had been convicted of offending King Mohammed.

Yassine Belassal, 18, had been convicted after altering the official Moroccan slogan of loyalty to the king.

Writing on a blackboard he replaced the monarch's name with that of his favourite football club, Barcelona.

The case has received wide publicity and Barcelona football club expressed support for the fan.

The Moroccan schoolboy altered the phrase "God, The Nation, The King" on the school blackboard to read "God, The Nation, Barcelona".

Yassine Belassal's lawyer told the court that no offence was intended.

Royal pardons

Human rights workers said that while the prison sentence had been suspended and a fine repealed, Mr Belassal's conviction had not been overturned.

In several cases young men have been jailed for insulting the royal family.

Earlier this year one man received a three-year sentence for creating a mock Facebook profile of the king's brother, before receiving a royal pardon.

Last month, another man was jailed after suggesting that some royal practices did not help the development of the country.

He was cleared on appeal following a media outcry.