Morocco jails French influencer for 'insulting police' in viral video

A French influencer has been handed a one-year prison sentence in Morocco after accusing the country's police of corruption in a widely shared video. The 30-year-old, who goes by the online alias "Yass Naubelle," was detained at Marrakech airport on June 13 as she prepared to fly to France.

Her arrest followed the online circulation of a video where she alleged that Moroccan police would stop people "for nothing" and seek bribes during traffic stops. The content creator, who has 20,000 TikTok followers, also commented on the "dangerous" driving of Moroccans in Marrakech, contrasting it with Algerian drivers.

Moroccan media reported that the Marrakech court convicted her on Monday, sentencing her to a year in prison and imposing a fine of approximately 190 euros. She faced formal charges of "disseminating and publishing allegations and false facts with the aim of infringing on the privacy of individuals or defaming them" and "outrage to an institution established by law." The influencer has ten days to appeal the ruling, according to Moroccan law. The case unfolds against a backdrop of strained relations between Algeria and Morocco, regional rivals with ongoing disputes, particularly concerning the Western Sahara.