El Youbi. Also known by his stage name Mehdi Black Wind, was detained after being questioned by Morocco’s National Brigade of Judicial Police. His family was informed at around 9 p.m. that he had been taken into custody and was scheduled to appear before a public prosecutor on Wednesday.

Artist Known for Political Commentary

El Youbi, born in 1992, is a prominent figure in Moroccan and North African music, known for his rap songs heavily influenced by US hip-hop; he gained attention in the early 2010s, around the time of the Arab Spring, for his politically engaged lyrics.

“When I return home, I’m afraid of being arrested or banned from the country,” El Youbi told French music magazine Mosaique Magazine in December 2025. “Many people try to depoliticise art or sport, but I believe that every committed artist, every activist, or anyone who takes risks lives between boldness and fear.”

Concerns Over Freedom of Expression

Omar Radi, a Moroccan investigative journalist and human rights activist, described El Youbi as “the most outspoken and politically direct Moroccan rapper.” Radi added that there appears to be a deliberate attempt to suppress criticism of the government or police methods, whether in civil society, the press, or artistic and sports communities.

El Youbi’s arrest comes just a day after Moroccan journalist Ali Lmrabet was also detained. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned Lmrabet’s arrest. In addition, two weeks prior, Zineb Kharroubi, a leading figure in the Gen Z 212 activist movement, received a six-month suspended prison sentence for “incitement to commit crimes or offences by electronic means.”

A supporter of El Youbi said these recent arrests reflect an “intensified repression linked to the Gen Z movement,” referring to the youth-led protest movement that emerged last year in Morocco to demand better health services and education reforms.

Broader Context of Security operations

El Youbi is due to appear before the public prosecutor on Wednesday morning. His supporters have expressed concern that he may not have legal representation, as Moroccan lawyers are currently on strike.

Algerian journalist Maher Mezahi praised El Youbi as “the best rapper in North Africa and it’s not close.”