What's the penalty for creating a fake Facebook page?

Three years in the clink if you happen to live in Morocco, and the target of your gag is the King's brother. On Friday, a Moroccan judge  sentenced Fouad Mourtada, a 27-year-old computer engineer, to three years in prison and a fine of 10,000 dirhams (about £660 pounds, a big chunk of a techie's salary in Morocco) for creating a fictional Facebook identity for King Mohammed VI's brother, Prince Moulay Rachid.

Amnesty International told AFP that they were "shocked by such a heavy verdict", and the civil rights group has already begun questioning the veracity of the evidence, which they say was extracted from Mourtada under duress.

The news is already rippling through the Facebook community. A host of groups critical of King Mohammed VI have been created plus "Help Fouad" petition groups in multiple languages. As one erratically spelt Facebook petition reads, "There are on Facebook 41 Nicolas Sarkozy, 10 prince William of England, Many Jackes Chirac (Former France president), Roger Federer, Georges Bush, Osama Benladen and so on...Fouad's initiative was a pure innocent act without any personal gain or harmful intent. Since Facebook Launch on 2004, a big number of young adults in many countries profile public figures and stars on Facebook for reasons of admiration or entertainment, without malicious intent."

There are now 2,720 members, including a "Prince Moulay Rachid" who says: "This is truly a farce. I am deeply ashamed by this."

At least one Prince Moulay Rachid is.