The independent Franco-Moroccan journalist Ali Lmrabet found himself back in the spotlight this month when authorities intercepted him at Tangier’s airport upon arrival from Spain on July 12. He was subsequently transferred to Casablanca, where judicial authorities placed him under custody pending an investigation into allegations of « dissemination of false information » that allegedly tarnished both individuals and state institutions.
According to judicial sources, the case stems from digital publications that allegedly defamed public figures and state bodies. The prosecutor’s office has formally accused Lmrabet of « disseminating false information that undermines constitutional institutions, » a charge that carries potential prison time if proven. His detention has triggered swift condemnation from press freedom advocates who view the move as an escalation in the government’s crackdown on dissenting voices.
“The detention of Ali Lmrabet is deeply alarming and reflects a persistent pattern of using legal proceedings to silence critical journalists. We demand his immediate release. His lifelong commitment to journalism and the public’s right to know aligns with the values Morocco has publicly pledged to uphold. Using the justice system to punish a reporter is not justice—it is repression in disguise.”
a veteran journalist’s long fight for press freedom
Lmrabet first made headlines as a pioneer of independent journalism in Morocco, founding the groundbreaking weeklies Demain Magazine and Doumane. His uncompromising reporting on sensitive political topics led to his imprisonment in 2003 for « insulting the king, » a sentence later reduced to a royal pardon after international outcry. In 2005, a defamation conviction stripped him of his right to practice journalism in Morocco, pushing him into exile where he continued his work from France and Spain—both of which granted him citizenship and residency.
Despite the ban, Lmrabet’s influence never waned. He collaborated with prominent Spanish outlets such as El Mundo and El País, while also building a substantial online following through YouTube videos dissecting Morocco’s political and security landscapes. His relentless pursuit of truth earned him a spot on RSF’s 2014 list of “100 Information Heroes.”
In 2008, Moroccan authorities attempted to pursue legal action against him in Spanish and French courts, but both jurisdictions dismissed the cases. Over the past two decades, Lmrabet has made repeated trips to Morocco for personal reasons without incident—until this month’s interception, according to his wife, Laura Feliu.
Morocco currently ranks 105th out of 180 countries in the 2026 RSF World Press Freedom Index, underscoring the precarious state of media independence in the kingdom.
