Moroccan computer engineer Fouad Mourtada, 26, was sentenced by a Casablanca court to three years in prison over a Facebook profile of the younger brother of Moroccan King Mohammed VI. The court alleged that Mourtada was "usurping the identity of HRH Prince Moulay Rachid," and faking computer documents.

His lawyer said he would appeal the sentence. "On Facebook you find sites of Sarkozy, Bush and Blair as well as sports stars and film stars without certifying that they are real," said his lawyer Ali Ammar to AFP.

Mourtada was facing charges of "stealing the identity of Prince Moulay Rachid" and "forgery of computer documents," and was also fined the equivalent of $1,300. He said of the prince: "I admire him, I like him a lot and I have never caused him any wrong, it was just a joke. I am innocent," AFP reports.

He was arrested on Feb. 5 or 6 in Casablanca. A web site has been set up by his defenders: www.helpfouad.com