Moroccan social networks are the subject of a major cleaning at the end of the year. A series of lawsuits against creators of controversial content have followed one another in recent months.
The first to inaugurate the ball is Ilyas El Malki, streamer on the platform Kickwho was sentenced on November 19 by the El Jadida court of first instance to four months in prison and a fine of 5,000 dirhams. The complaints against him, filed by human rights associations, allege comments deemed offensive towards the Amazigh community, accusing the streamer of inciting hatred and discrimination.
Read also: Tetouan: influencers prosecuted for extortion and defamation
And among the first to bear the brunt of this campaign, Reda Bouzidi, known under the pseudonym “Ould Chinwiya”. This character with wrists covered in gold, regularly criticized for his vulgar language and his public disputes, was arrested on November 20. Tried for insults, defamation and invasion of privacy, he was sentenced to three years in prison on December 9, a decision rendered by the criminal chamber of first instance of the Aïn Sebaâ court. Small anecdote: no lawyer agreed to defend him at the start of his trial, for an Instagram live where he had disrespected the legal profession.
At the same time, Fatima Bent Abbas, a lesser-known TikToker, was also sentenced to two and a half years in prison for harming the reputation and private lives of others.
Another resounding case: Aïcha Sraidi, alias “Houyam Star”, was presented before the Casablanca police services on December 10. Known for her lives in which she shared her personal difficulties, her polemical speech on sensitive subjects, including the monarchy, caused an outcry. The complaints against him include defamation, insults and slander, but also accusations linked to “strange rituals”. His children, often in the media, today find themselves in a critical situation.
Read also: Freedom of expression, desecrated by unscrupulous influencers!
The abuses observed pushed the judicial authorities to take firm action. If freedom of expression remains a fundamental pillar, it must nevertheless be exercised in compliance with societal values and the laws in force. The debate on the balance between individual freedom and the preservation of public order remains open, but one thing is clear: disorder will no longer be permitted on social networks in Morocco.
