Moroccan rapper and filmmaker Mehdi El Youbi, also known by his stage name Mehdi Black Wind, has been temporarily released from prison in Casablanca after being detained for 18 days. He was arrested in mid-July on charges of insulting a constitutional institution, shortly after being barred from returning to France, where he has lived since 2017.

A judge granted El Youbi's request for provisional release on Friday, according to a statement from his supporters shared with Al Jazeera.

El Youbi's arrest occurred amid intensified repression linked to the Gen Z movement, a youth-led protest movement that began last year in Morocco demanding improved health services and education reforms. Supporters stated that around 600 people have remained in detention since Autumn 2025, with some facing sentences as long as 15 years.

In October, the Moroccan Association for Human Rights reported that 600 individuals had been held for participating in the protests. Additionally, prominent Moroccan journalist Ali Lmrabet was recently released from custody.

The ongoing situation reflects broader concerns about human rights in the region, with reports highlighting the continued impact of the Arab Spring and warnings from Human Rights Watch about the global human rights system being in peril.

Sources