Moroccan rapper Mehdi El Youbi temporarily released from prison

A Moroccan judge granted provisional release to politically outspoken rapper and filmmaker Mehdi El Youbi on Friday, ending an 18-day detention at Oukacha Prison in Casablanca. El Youbi, known professionally as Mehdi Black Wind, was arrested in mid-July following his barring from France, where he had resided since 2017. According to his supporters, the arrest was connected to his artistic expression and social media activity.

El Youbi remains under prosecution for allegedly insulting a constitutional institution under Article 179 of Morocco's Penal Code. If convicted, he faces between six months and two years imprisonment alongside financial penalties ranging from approximately $2,150 to $21,500. His case will return to court on 2 October 2026.

The artist gained prominence across North Africa in the early 2010s during the Arab Spring period, producing politically engaged music that drew official scrutiny. According to Omar Radi, a Moroccan investigative journalist and human rights activist, El Youbi represents "the most outspoken and politically direct Moroccan rapper." His supporters attribute his arrest to intensified government repression targeting a youth-led protest movement that emerged in Morocco demanding improved health services and educational reforms.

El Youbi's supporters noted that approximately 600 individuals remain detained since autumn 2025 for protest participation, with some facing sentences up to 15 years. The Moroccan Association for Human Rights documented these detentions in October. During his court appearance on Friday, El Youbi proceeded without legal representation due to an ongoing lawyers' strike in Morocco. His supporters credited widespread international support, including rallies across Morocco, Europe, and North America, with facilitating his provisional release.