Outspoken Moroccan rapper Mehdi El Youbi arrested in Casablanca | Protests News
Moroccan Authorities Intensify Repression Against Dissenting Voices
By Alexander Durie
Published on July 14, 2026
Casablanca—Mehdi El Youbi, a politically outspoken rapper and filmmaker known as Mehdi Black Wind, was arrested Monday night in Casablanca, shortly after he was prohibited from returning to France, his home since 2017. El Youbi’s detention marks a significant escalation in the Moroccan authorities’ repression of critical voices and the Gen Z protest movement.
According to a statement from friends and supporters, El Youbi was taken into custody after being questioned by Morocco’s National Brigade of Judicial Police. His family was notified around 9 p.m. that he would face the public prosecutor on Wednesday. Sources indicate that his arrest may be connected to his artistic expression and social media posts.
Born in 1992, El Youbi has garnered a significant following in Morocco and across North Africa for his music, which reflects influences from U.S. hip-hop and engages with social and political issues. He gained notoriety in the early 2010s alongside the Arab Spring, drawing attention from authorities due to his politically charged lyrics.
In a December 2025 interview with French publication Mosaique Magazine, El Youbi expressed concerns about returning to Morocco, fearing potential arrest or government barriers. “Many people try to depoliticize art or sport, but I believe that every committed artist or activist lives between boldness and fear,” he stated.
Omar Radi, a Moroccan investigative journalist and human rights advocate who has faced imprisonment himself for criticizing the judiciary, described El Youbi as “the most outspoken and politically direct Moroccan rapper.” Radi noted a systematic effort to suppress dissent across various sectors, including civil society, the press, and the arts.
El Youbi’s arrest followed the detention of journalist Ali Lmrabet, which drew condemnation from the Committee to Protect Journalists, and occurred two weeks after activist Zineb Kharroubi of the Gen Z 212 movement received a suspended six-month prison sentence for “incitement to commit crimes or offenses by electronic means.”
Supporters of El Youbi assert that these recent incidents reflect a growing crackdown on the youth-led Gen Z movement, which advocates for reforms in health care and education.
El Youbi is expected to appear before the public prosecutor Wednesday morning. Concerns have been raised regarding his legal representation, as lawyers in Morocco are currently on strike.
