Morocco authorities detain journalist ali lmrabet amid freedom of speech concerns
Morocco authorities detain journalist ali lmrabet amid freedom of speech concerns
- RSF_fr
The independent Franco-Moroccan journalist Ali Lmrabet was detained at Tangier airport upon arrival on July 12 and transferred to Casablanca, where he was placed in police custody under investigation for alleged “spreading false information.” Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the move and demands his immediate release.
Returning to Morocco from Spain for personal administrative matters, Ali Lmrabet was intercepted at Tangier airport on July 12 and taken to Casablanca for questioning by the National Judicial Police Brigade. Prosecutors allege multiple warrants linked to digital publications deemed defamatory toward individuals and institutions. He faces charges of allegedly spreading false information that undermines constitutional institutions.
“The detention of Ali Lmrabet is deeply troubling and once again exposes the misuse of judicial mechanisms to silence dissent. His immediate release must be secured. Throughout his career, Lmrabet has championed journalism and the right to information—principles Morocco has publicly pledged to uphold. Punishing a journalist for doing his job isn’t justice; it’s weaponizing the law to suppress criticism.”
A pioneer of independent journalism
A prominent voice in Morocco’s critical press landscape, Ali Lmrabet founded the now-defunct weekly magazines Demain Magazine and Doumane. His confrontational reporting led to a 2003 prison sentence for “insulting the king,” though he was pardoned the following year. In 2005, a defamation conviction barred him from practicing journalism in Morocco.
Undeterred, Lmrabet continued his work from France—where he holds citizenship—and Spain, where he has lived for years. He regularly covers sensitive topics in Morocco, including security matters, for Spanish outlets such as El Mundo and El País. His global recognition was cemented in 2014 when RSF named him one of the “100 Information Heroes” for his unwavering dedication to press freedom. He also maintains an active YouTube channel where he analyzes current political affairs.
Despite Morocco’s attempts in 2008 to pursue legal action against Lmrabet in Spain and France, both countries dismissed the cases. Over the past two decades, he has traveled to Morocco multiple times for family reasons without incident, his wife, Laura Feliu, confirmed.
Morocco ranks 105th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2026 World Press Freedom Index.
