Overview
- The Franco‑Moroccan journalist was detained on arrival at Tangier airport and moved to the national judicial police in Casablanca after authorities said online posts contained defamatory and injurious statements toward people and institutions.
- He was placed in custody for questioning and brought before the prosecutor before being released, with the public prosecutor saying the investigation into the alleged online defamation remains open.
- Rights organizations including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists publicly urged his release and have called for the inquiry to be dropped or clarified.
- It is not yet clear whether travel restrictions will be imposed on Lmrabet now that he is free, and his wife said he had faced prior notices linked to these allegations.
- Lmrabet is a longtime critic of Moroccan authorities who was banned from practicing journalism from 2005 to 2015 after earlier convictions related to Western Sahara coverage, a history that frames both the charges and international concern.