Morocco Bans Magazine Showing Pictures Of Prophet

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco has banned a special issue of a French newsweekly featuring an in-depth look at Arab civilization because it shows a picture of Islam’s Prophet Mohammed.

L’Express magazine veiled the prophet’s face in a bid to get around the belief by many Muslims that any depiction of the prophet is blasphemous.

Government spokesman Khalid Naciri said Friday that “any graphic representations of the Prophet Mohammed is forbidden in Morocco.”

L’Express editor-in-chief Christophe Barbier said the ban was “incomprehensible” because the magazine took care to veil the prophet’s face. L’Express said on its site that it “vigorously protests this censorship.”

However, the 95-page issue also contains pictures showing the prophet’s face uncovered.