Since July 13, 2026, Moroccan filmmaker and musician El Mahdi Lyoubi has been detained following a travel ban imposed without the disclosure of its reasons. This situation has ignited serious concerns regarding freedom of expression and artistic creation in Morocco. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), through the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, alongside a collective of cultural institutions, professional associations, journalists, academic figures, and human rights defenders, are urgently calling for the immediate release of Lyoubi.
Born in 1992 in Salé and residing in Marseille since 2017, El Mahdi Lyoubi has trained at Fémis and has built an internationally recognized career as a filmmaker over recent years. His documentary short, "Marseille, 14 juillet," has been showcased at numerous festivals, including New Directors-New Films (MoMA, New York), Sheffield DocFest, Kerala Festival, Escales documentaires, Franco-Arab Film Festival in Noisy-le-Sec, Tarifa African Film Festival, and Thessaloniki Film Festival. Currently, he is working on his first feature documentary, a project selected in 2025 by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (Afac). Known in the Moroccan music scene as Mehdi Black Wind, he has been developing work addressing social justice and freedom of expression since the 2010s. In September 2025, he performed at the L’Boulevard festival in Casablanca before an audience of over 50,000.
On July 10, 2026, as he was preparing to return to Marseille after a family visit and location scouting for his upcoming documentary, Lyoubi was informed at the boarding area of Rabat-Salé Airport that he was banned from leaving the country. No reasons were provided for this decision, which led to his being redirected to the Salé police station. There, the officers were unable to clarify the situation and issued him a summons to appear at the National Brigade of Judicial Police (BNPJ) in Casablanca on July 13, 2026.
After being interrogated throughout the day, Lyoubi was placed in custody that evening. His family received late and informal notifications indicating that his arrest was linked to social media posts, without further specifics, and that he would appear before the prosecutor on Wednesday, July 15.
Presented before the prosecutor and a judge, Lyoubi was subsequently remanded in custody at Oukacha prison, awaiting his hearing scheduled for July 22. This process takes place amidst a widespread strike by lawyers in Morocco, preventing them from assisting him. To date, his attorneys have not been able to meet with him or access the judicial files, and his family has also been denied visitation rights while he is in detention.
Concerning Trends in Artistic Expression in Morocco
The arrest of El Mahdi Lyoubi is not an isolated incident. Since the autumn of 2025, numerous artists have faced prosecution or condemnation in Morocco due to the content of their works or publications. Rapper Jawad Asradi, known as Pause Flow, was arrested in November 2025 and placed in provisional detention due to the lyrics of several of his songs, ultimately receiving a suspended sentence of three months for insulting a public body, a decision upheld on appeal in June 2026. Similarly, rapper Hamza Raid was apprehended in Casablanca and sentenced to six months in prison with a suspended sentence. In March 2026, 20-year-old rapper Souhaib Qabli was sentenced to eight months in prison for insulting a constitutional institution and spreading false news. In February 2026, film distributor Zineb Kharroubi received a six-month suspended sentence for encouraging the commission of crimes or misdemeanors via electronic means.
Despite the different circumstances surrounding these cases, they reveal a troubling trend towards the increasing criminalization of artistic expression. Article 25 of the Moroccan Constitution guarantees freedoms of thought, opinion, and expression in all forms. It is in the name of this fundamental text, as well as Morocco's international commitments, that we express our grave concerns.
This situation unfolds against the backdrop of the GenZ 212 protest movement that has emerged since the autumn of 2025. Coordinated largely through social media, this movement advocates for access to healthcare and education, the fight against corruption, and the protection of freedom of expression.
Believing that freedom of creation and expression is essential for the cultural and democratic vitality of any society, the signatories of this statement urge Moroccan authorities to:
- Guarantee El Mahdi Lyoubi all rights and procedural guarantees recognized by the Moroccan Constitution, national legislation, and the Kingdom's international commitments, particularly the full exercise of defense rights;
- Reassess any restrictive measures on his freedom or movement without delay, ensuring they are based on clear legal grounds, serve a legitimate purpose, and adhere to the principles of necessity and proportionality;
- Ensure that the handling of this case fully complies with fair trial guarantees and Morocco’s constitutional and international obligations regarding the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
- Enhance conditions that allow artists, creators, and cultural actors to freely engage in their activities and participate in public discourse within a climate that respects freedoms, pluralism, and the diversity of artistic and cultural expressions;
- Immediately and unconditionally release El Mahdi Lyoubi.
We remain vigilant regarding the developments in this case and are available for constructive dialogue with the relevant authorities.
As reported by fidh.org.
