According to reports, fifteen prominent Amazigh figures from political, cultural, and academic fields have instructed lawyer Mohamed El Mo from Rabat to initiate legal proceedings against YouTuber Ilyas El Malki. The complaint, filed with the public prosecutor, cites that El Malki’s digital content contains “insults, defamation, and incitement to discrimination and hatred.”
The Need for Action
Abdelouahad Darwish, president of the Drâa-Tafilalet Living Together Foundation, emphasized that bringing El Malki to court is not a restriction of free speech but a way to protect Moroccan society from harmful hate speech. He warned that unchecked discourse like this could damage Morocco’s cultural diversity. Darwish also argued that the growing trend of using identity-based attacks as a monetization strategy on social media must be halted through legal intervention.
Calls for Accountability
Rachid Bouhaddouz, national coordinator of “Agraw for Amazighity,” added that El Malki’s comments threaten societal cohesion and tarnish Morocco’s image, especially as the country prepares for significant international events like the African Cup of Nations and the World Cup. He stressed that leniency toward such remarks risks normalizing discrimination across society and called for strict legislation against racial and cultural discrimination.
Legal Grounds for the Complaint
The complaint references both Morocco’s penal code and specific amendments addressing online hate speech and discrimination. Lawyer Mohamed El Mo confirmed that the public prosecutor will review the case, determining the appropriate course of action. El Mo emphasized that El Malki’s content, which refers to certain Amazigh people as having “hungry minds,” promotes divisiveness and could inspire further racist behavior, including in sports settings.
This legal move, backed by well-known intellectuals and activists such as Ahmed Assid and Rachid Aylal, highlights the broader societal rejection of any attempts to undermine Morocco’s diverse identity and unity .
