El Mahdi Lyoubi, a Moroccan rapper and filmmaker, was sentenced to two years in prison by a court in Casablanca on July 22, 2026. He was convicted of insulting a public official, according to reports from Moroccan media and human rights organizations.
The case stems from a 2024 incident where Lyoubi allegedly insulted a police officer during a traffic stop. His arrest in early 2026 sparked protests from activists who claim the charges are politically motivated, as Lyoubi's music often criticizes government policies.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have called for his release, stating that the sentence violates freedom of expression. The French government has not issued an official statement on the matter, despite Lyoubi's dual Moroccan-French nationality.
Lyoubi's legal team plans to appeal the verdict. The case has drawn attention to Morocco's record on press freedom, with Reporters Without Borders ranking the country 129th out of 180 in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index.
