Moroccan authorities took rapper El Mahdi Lyoubi, known as «Mehdi Black Wind», into custody earlier this week. He is currently being held in a Casablanca prison, prompting a public appeal for his immediate release.
Is this detention politically motivated? On Wednesday, Moroccan prosecutors referred El Mahdi Lyoubi, 34, to a court in Casablanca for immediate appearance. Days before his arrest, on Friday, Lyoubi was informed at Rabat airport that he was prohibited from leaving the country. He had been planning to board a flight to France, where he has resided for nearly a decade, according to his support committee. He was subsequently summoned by the Casablanca judicial police on Monday and placed in custody. The question remains: what led to the artist’s arrest?
detained for his outspoken views?
While official charges have not yet been disclosed by Moroccan authorities, many speculate that the rapper’s arrest is connected to his political stances. This theory is strongly supported by those who authored a public statement demanding El Mahdi Lyoubi’s freedom. The rapper and filmmaker is widely recognized within independent artistic circles for his poignant lyrics, which often critique Moroccan society and its inherent inequalities. This critical commentary is believed to be the underlying reason for his apprehension.
The published appeal for his «immediate liberation» states, «Based on available information, his arrest appears linked to his artistic positions and social media publications.»
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More than 700 cultural figures, including acclaimed Moroccan filmmaker Faouzi Bensaidi and French actresses Adèle Haenel and Aïssa Maïga, signed a petition on Wednesday condemning his detention and urging his release. The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) also issued a statement on Tuesday, advocating for his freedom and calling for an end to policies that target critical voices.
The artist appeared before a judge at the Casablanca Court of First Instance on Wednesday. The hearing was adjourned until July 22 to allow him to prepare his defense, a necessary measure given that lawyers in Morocco have been on strike for the past month, as confirmed by a source close to the matter.
