When Ahmed Benchemsi, publisher of a Moroccan satirical weekly magazine, found himself in court last year accused of disrespecting King Mohammed in one of his columns, at first he could not understand what the authorities had found offensive.

“I had written way more critical editorials about the king,” said Mr Benchemsi. “But the judge said I had described the king in my piece as a ‘human being’, and addressed him as ‘brother’.”