Moroccan journalist Ali Lmrabet released but remains suspect in defamation case

Moroccan journalist Ali Lmrabet has been released from custody, confirmed by the Moroccan Public Prosecution. The 66-year-old political commentator was detained upon arrival at Tangier airport on Sunday and subsequently questioned. He, however, remains a suspect in an ongoing investigation into defamation and slander. The Moroccan Public Prosecution has indicated that "appropriate legal consequences" will follow, though it is unclear if Lmrabet must remain in Morocco. Lmrabet, who has lived in Barcelona for several years, has been a vocal critic of the Moroccan political system on social media for decades. He is known as one of Morocco's few independent journalists, frequently reporting on the royal family, corruption, and other sensitive topics. The Public Prosecution had previously stated that the journalist's arrest followed multiple warrants issued due to online statements deemed punishable under Moroccan law, including alleged defamation and slander against individuals and institutions. Lmrabet has a history of legal troubles stemming from his critical reporting, including a prison sentence in 2003 for insulting the king, for which he later received a royal pardon. In 2005, he was banned from practicing journalism for ten years. The recent arrest of rapper and filmmaker Mehdi El Youbi, also known as Mehdi Black Wind, for his critical online statements, has drawn parallels. In response to these arrests, the RAVI network, advocating for freedoms of expression and assembly, has called for a demonstration at the parliament building in Rabat, inviting political parties, unions, and human rights organizations to participate.