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Outspoken Moroccan rapper Mehdi El Youbi arrested in Casablanca

From Al Jazeera · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Moroccan rapper and filmmaker Mehdi El Youbi was arrested in Casablanca after being questioned by authorities.
  • Supporters believe his detention is linked to his artistic views and social media posts critical of the government.
  • El Youbi's arrest follows a pattern of increased repression against critical voices and activist movements in Morocco.

Politically outspoken Moroccan artist Mehdi El Youbi, also known as rapper Mehdi Black Wind, has been arrested in Casablanca. His detention came days after he was prevented from returning to France, where he has lived since 2017. El Youbi was detained Monday night following questioning by Morocco's National Brigade of Judicial Police.

After a day of questioning, his family were informed at around 9pm that he had been taken into police custody and was due to appear before the public prosecutor on Wednesday

— statement from a group of his friends and supportersThis statement from El Youbi's supporters details the circumstances of his arrest and initial notification to his family.

A statement from his supporters indicated that after a day of questioning, his family was informed around 9 p.m. that he was in police custody and would appear before the public prosecutor on Wednesday. The arrest is believed to be connected to his artistic expression and social media activity.

According to the latest information, his arrest is believed to be linked to his artistic views and posts on social media.

— statement from a group of his friends and supportersThe supporters' statement provides the suspected reason for El Youbi's detention.

El Youbi, born in 1992, gained fame in Morocco and North Africa for his rap music, heavily influenced by U.S. hip-hop. He emerged in the early 2010s, coinciding with the Arab Spring, with politically charged lyrics that attracted official scrutiny.

When I return home, I’m afraid of being arrested or banned from the country. Many people try to depoliticise art or sport, but I believe that every committed artist, every activist, or anyone who takes risks lives between boldness and fear.

— Mehdi El YoubiEl Youbi expressed his fears about returning to Morocco in a December 2025 interview with French music magazine Mosaique Magazine, reflecting on the risks faced by committed artists.

His arrest is part of a broader trend of intensified repression against critical voices and the Gen Z protest movement in Morocco. This follows the recent detention of journalist Ali Lmrabet and a suspended prison sentence for activist Zineb Kharroubi. Omar Radi, a Moroccan journalist and human rights activist, described El Youbi as "the most outspoken and politically direct Moroccan rapper," highlighting a deliberate effort to silence dissent across various sectors, including civil society, the press, art, and sports.

the best rapper in North Africa and it’s not close

— Maher MezahiAlgerian journalist Maher Mezahi praised El Youbi's talent on X.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Jazeera. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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