A heroes welcome in Morocco.

Supporters, friends and relatives of jailed newspaper editor Rachid Nini welcome him home.

They've waited a whole year for this day.

Nini was arrested last April. A court found him guilty of crimes including "discrediting a court, trying to influence the judiciary and publishing information about untrue criminal offenses."

His supporters say he was unjustly prosecuted for criticizing the authorities.

He remains defiant.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FREED JOURNALIST, FORMER NEWS EDITOR OF THE DAILY AL MASSAE, RACHID NINI SAYING:

"I hope to be the last journalist in Morocco to be tried for his writing by the criminal law. I want to see a press code that considers us as journalists, not as criminals".

The thirst for democratic reform has swept through neighboring countries including Egypt and Libya where long-standing leaders were toppled by popular movements. i.

Morocco's new government, led by moderate Islamists who until late last year were in opposition, have said they will try to end the practices of jailing people unlawfully and abusing the rights of dissidents.

Rights activists say change is coming slowly. They point to the prosecution of a rapper over a song he posted on YouTube that was critical of the authorities.

The rapper, known as "the Sullen One," is awaiting trial.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters