Outspoken Moroccan rapper Mehdi El Youbi arrested in Casablanca
Moroccan authorities have arrested politically outspoken rapper and filmmaker Mehdi El Youbi, known as Mehdi Black Wind, in Casablanca days after he was barred from returning to France. His arrest is believed to be linked to his artistic views and social media posts.
Arrest and Alleged Reasons
Morocco has seen another detention of a critical artist. Rapper and filmmaker Mehdi El Youbi, better known by his stage name Mehdi Black Wind, was arrested on Monday evening in Casablanca after being questioned by the National Brigade of Judicial Police. According to a statement from his supporters, his family was informed around 9 pm that he had been taken into custody and that he is expected to appear before the public prosecutor on Wednesday.
Supporters believe his arrest is linked to his artistic views and content posted on social media. Born in 1992, El Youbi is widely known in Morocco and North Africa for his US hip-hop-influenced rap. He gained prominence in the early 2010s, coinciding with the Arab Spring, and his politically charged lyrics drew the attention of authorities.
Previous Statements on Fear of Repression
In an interview with French music magazine Mosaique Magazine in December 2025, El Youbi expressed fear of returning home: "When I return home, I'm afraid of being arrested or banned from the country. Many people try to depoliticise art or sport, but I believe that every committed artist, every activist, or anyone who takes risks lives between boldness and fear."
Moroccan investigative journalist and human rights activist Omar Radi, who was previously jailed for criticizing a judge, described El Youbi as "the most outspoken and politically direct Moroccan rapper." Radi said there is "a deliberate attempt to stamp out any possibility of criticism of the government or police methods, whether within civil society and the press, or in artistic circles or amongst football supporters."
Broader Context: Growing Pressure on Critical Voices
El Youbi's detention comes a day after the arrest of Moroccan journalist Ali Lmrabet, which was condemned by the Committee to Protect Journalists, and two weeks after Zineb Kharroubi, a leading figure in the Gen Z 212 activist movement, received a six-month suspended prison sentence for "incitement to commit crimes or offences by electronic means."
A supporter of El Youbi said these developments reflect "intensified repression linked to the Gen Z movement," referring to the youth-led protest movement that emerged in Morocco last year demanding better health services and education reforms.
El Youbi is due to appear before the public prosecutor on Wednesday morning. His supporters expressed concern that he may have to appear without a lawyer, as lawyers in Morocco are currently on strike.
