Morocco: immediate release demanded for detained artist El Mahdi Lyoubi
- Human rights defenders
Since his detention on July 13, 2026 under undisclosed travel restrictions, Moroccan filmmaker and musician El Mahdi Lyoubi has become a symbol of growing concerns over artistic freedom and free speech in the country. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), alongside a coalition of cultural institutions, professional associations, journalists, academics, writers, artists, and human rights defenders, are urging Moroccan authorities to secure his immediate release.
July 21, 2026. Born in 1992 in Salé, El Mahdi Lyoubi has lived in Marseille since 2017. A graduate of La Fémis film school, his career has earned international acclaim. His documentary short film Marseille, 14 juillet has been featured in prestigious festivals worldwide, including New Directors-New Films at MoMA (New York), Sheffield DocFest, Kerala International Film Festival, Escales documentaires, the Franco-Arab Film Festival in Noisy-le-Sec, the Tarifa African Film Festival, and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Currently, he is working on his first feature-length documentary, a project supported in 2025 by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC). As Mehdi Black Wind, he is also a prominent figure in Morocco’s music scene, using his work to explore themes of social justice and freedom of expression. In September 2025, he performed at the L’Boulevard festival in Casablanca to an audience of over 50,000 people.
On July 10, 2026, while preparing to return to Marseille after a family visit and research for his upcoming documentary, El Mahdi Lyoubi was informed at Rabat-Salé Airport that he was prohibited from leaving the country—without any explanation provided. Denied boarding to France, he was taken to the Salé police station, where officers could not clarify the decision and instead issued him a summons to appear before the National Brigade of Judicial Police (BNPJ) in Casablanca on Monday, July 13, 2026.
After an entire day of questioning, he was placed in police custody that evening. His family was only informed—unofficially and belatedly—that his arrest might be linked to social media posts, though no further details were given. He was scheduled to appear before the prosecutor on Wednesday, July 15.
Following his hearing and presentation to a judge, El Mahdi Lyoubi was remanded in custody at the Oukacha prison in Casablanca, pending his next hearing on July 22. This process unfolds amid a nationwide lawyers’ strike, preventing him from accessing legal representation. To this day, his lawyers have been unable to meet with him or review his case file. His family has also been denied visitation rights.
A troubling escalation against artistic expression.
The arrest of El Mahdi Lyoubi is not an isolated incident. Since late 2025, several artists in Morocco have faced prosecution or convictions for their creative works or online content. Rapper Jawad Asradi, known as Pause Flow, was arrested in November 2025 and placed in provisional detention over the lyrics of his songs before being sentenced in June 2026 to three months suspended imprisonment for insulting a constituted body. Rapper Hamza Raid was also detained in Casablanca and handed a six-month suspended sentence. In March 2026, 20-year-old rapper Souhaib Qabli received an eight-month prison term for insulting a constitutional institution and spreading false information. In February 2026, film distributor Zineb Kharroubi was sentenced to six months suspended imprisonment for inciting crimes or offenses through electronic means.
While these cases differ in their circumstances, they collectively signal a disturbing trend: the increasing criminalization of artistic expression. This runs counter to Article 25 of Morocco’s Constitution, which guarantees the freedoms of thought, opinion, and expression in all forms. It also violates the country’s international commitments. In response, signatories to this letter express their deep concern.
These developments unfold against the backdrop of the GenZ 212 protest movement, which emerged in late 2025. Largely organized online, the movement has advocated for access to healthcare and education, anti-corruption measures, and freedom of expression.
Recognizing that freedom of creation and expression is vital to cultural and democratic vitality, the undersigned demand that Moroccan authorities:
- Uphold El Mahdi Lyoubi’s full rights and procedural guarantees under the Moroccan Constitution, national laws, and international obligations, ensuring his right to a proper defense;
- Review without delay any restrictive measures imposed on him to ensure they are legally grounded, serve a legitimate purpose, and comply with the principles of necessity and proportionality;
- Ensure that his case is handled in full accordance with fair trial guarantees and Morocco’s constitutional and international human rights obligations;
- Strengthen conditions that allow artists, creators, and cultural actors to carry out their work freely and participate in public debate in a climate that respects freedoms, pluralism, and the diversity of artistic and cultural expressions;
- Secure the immediate and unconditional release of El Mahdi Lyoubi.
We remain vigilant regarding the evolution of this case and are ready to engage in constructive dialogue with the relevant authorities.
