On August 19, 2026, a journalist from the French investigative news outlet Mediapart was expelled from Morocco after being held and questioned for several hours at the port of Tanger, according to multiple reports. The journalist, whose identity has not been fully disclosed, was reportedly covering a story related to Moroccan affairs.
The incident occurred as the journalist attempted to leave Morocco via the port of Tanger Med. She was taken into custody, questioned about her reporting activities, and then informed that she would be expelled from the country. Moroccan authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the expulsion.
Mediapart condemned the expulsion in a statement, calling it a violation of press freedom and an act of intimidation against journalists. The outlet said the journalist was in Morocco to conduct legitimate journalistic work and that her expulsion was unjustified.
This incident comes amid ongoing tensions between Moroccan authorities and international media, with several journalists and media outlets facing restrictions in recent years. Press freedom organizations have repeatedly called on Morocco to uphold its commitments to freedom of expression.
As of August 20, 2026, no further details have been released about the journalist's identity or the specific story she was working on. The French government has not yet commented on the matter.
