Mehdi El Youbi

Mehdi El Youbi, a politically outspoken Moroccan artist known for his work as a rapper and filmmaker, has been arrested in Casablanca. This detention follows his recent barring from returning to France, where he had been residing since 2017. El Youbi, also known by his stage name Mehdi Black Wind, was detained on a Monday night. Activists have linked his arrest to an intensifying crackdown on critical voices and the Gen Z protest movement in Morocco. His case is being highlighted by activists as part of a broader pattern of repression against regime critics, occurring shortly after the arrest and subsequent release of prominent journalist Ali Lmrabet. El Youbi's arrest underscores concerns about freedom of expression and the treatment of dissenting artists and activists within Morocco.