There are times when the red line of journalistic ethics is crossed with such nonchalance that it becomes imperative to denounce, without hesitation, these scandalous excesses. Mehdi Ghezzar, columnist RMC (Radio Monte Carlo) Algerian under orders, offered a striking demonstration of what could be described as “gutter journalism” on an Algerian channel (AL24), which, through a strange laxity, has transformed itself into a platform for hatred and open defamation.
His latest intervention, of an unspeakable vulgarity, testifies to a worrying drift where freedom of expression is transformed into a hateful outlet for political agendas at the orders of Algiers. Live, with a aplomb that borders on indecency, Mehdi Ghezzar engaged in a real exercise of demonization of Morocco, indulging in insults of a rare baseness.
Mehdi Ghezzar and his anti-Moroccan diatribes
Calling the Kingdom of Morocco the “Thailand of Africa” is already a peak of disrespect, but the columnist did not stop there. With a vehemence that is more pathological than a debate of ideas, he went on to outrageous statements, depicting Morocco as a “pseudo-country”, “anything but a Muslim country” where “if you want to steal a child, there are some”, or “if you want to rape a child, there are some”. These remarks, unworthy and scandalous, sadly recall the worst disinformation propaganda orchestrated by regimes in dire straits.
But Ghezzar’s hatred does not stop at insulting Morocco. In his filthy style, he did not hesitate to attack André Azoulay, the King’s advisor, by perfidiously relaying conspiracy theories tinged with anti-Semitism. It is sadly revealing that in the 21st century, a so-called journalist can still wallow in these types of tropes to fuel his bile.
Worse still, when the silent accomplice presenter suggests that Azoulay is the hidden hand behind an alleged royal decree banning Moroccans from demonstrating for Palestine, Ghezzar, with a smile on his face, agrees without batting an eyelid. This is a thinly veiled attempt to inject a dose of anti-Semitism into the heart of a debate that never existed, except for the sole purpose of provocation.
AL24: the guilty complacency of a declining channel
It is also worth questioning the role of the RMC channel, which seems to delight in these abject statements. Allowing a propagandist to export his venom in the name of freedom of expression raises serious questions about the ethical responsibilities of this platform.
Because by giving the microphone to agents in the service of propaganda orchestrated from Algiers, RMC is transforming itself into the mouthpiece of a well-known agenda, that of the destabilization of a neighbor who, whatever the journalist may say, remains a model of stability and tolerance.
When the mask falls: the obvious manipulation
Any informed observer understands the maneuver behind this unleashing of hatred. Morocco, through its stability and its economic and diplomatic advances, deeply annoys the circles that dream of seeing chaos reign in the region. By unleashing attacks that are as unfounded as they are grotesque, Mehdi Ghezzar only reveals the despair of an Algerian regime that is drifting. Unable to offer a perspective to its own people, Algiers is reduced to using media puppets to divert attention from its own failures.
Ultimately, this media outing is nothing more than a symptom of the frustration of a regime that sees its destabilization project fail in the face of Moroccan resilience. As for Mehdi Ghezzar, his role as a “columnist” is only a facade, behind which hides a simple agent in the service of state propaganda. One thing is certain: the masks have fallen.
The wave on social networks against Ghezzar
Mehdi Ghezzar’s slip-up did not go unanswered. In the space of a few hours, a wave of international condemnations flooded social networks. From X (formerly Twitter) to Instagram, via Facebook and TikTok, Internet users, Moroccans and foreigners, expressed their indignation at these scandalous remarks.
Hashtags calling for a boycott of RMC and denouncing Ghezzar’s hateful drift multiplied, causing a veritable media storm. Faced with this unbearable pressure, the columnist, short of arguments and visibly incapable of assuming his excesses, preferred to retreat by deleting all his accounts on social networks. The anger, palpable, was such that he found himself besieged by critics, having no choice but to flee the digital space that he had nevertheless used to spread his hatred.
RMC, under fire from critics
RMC, the platform that gave this individual a platform for an outpouring of hatred, has not been spared by this revolt. Calls for the channel to be held accountable have multiplied, with some Internet users not hesitating to point out RMC’s complacency, which seems to have knowingly allowed such an outburst to happen. Voices are being raised to demand explanations and apologies, while others are calling for an outright boycott of the channel.
RMC’s image, already tarnished by past controversies, has suffered a severe blow, reinforcing the idea that certain media platforms have become breeding grounds for disinformation and propaganda. It therefore appears that Ghezzar’s arrogance and RMC’s levity in letting him do so have provoked a reaction of unexpected magnitude, reminding us that freedom of expression can in no way serve as a screen for the dissemination of hate speech and malicious intoxication.
