Moroccan authorities apprehended rapper “Mehdi Black Wind” earlier this week, and he is now held at a Casablanca correctional facility. A public appeal advocating for his “immediate” release has since been circulated.

Speculation points to a politically motivated arrest. Moroccan prosecutors brought rapper El Mahdi Lyoubi, widely recognized as “Mehdi Black Wind,” before a court for immediate appearance on Wednesday. The 34-year-old artist, who has resided in France for nearly a decade, received a travel ban notification at Rabat airport last Friday as he prepared for a flight to France.

Casablanca judicial police summoned Lyoubi on Monday, subsequently placing him in custody. The central question remains: what led to the artist’s apprehension? 

detention linked to artistic expression?

While Moroccan authorities have not yet formally disclosed the specific charges, the rapper’s detention is widely believed to be connected to his political viewpoints. This theory is strongly supported by those who authored the public appeal for El Mahdi Lyoubi’s release. Within independent artistic circles, the rapper and filmmaker is renowned for his critical lyrics addressing Moroccan societal issues and disparities, which many suspect could be the underlying cause of his arrest. 

The published appeal, which calls for his “immediate release,” states: “Based on information currently available, his arrest appears linked to his artistic stances and social media posts.”

 
 
 
 
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Une publication partagée par Free El Mahdi (@free.el.mahdi)

Over 700 cultural figures, including Moroccan filmmaker Faouzi Bensaidi and French actresses Adèle Haenel and Aïssa Maïga, signed a petition on Wednesday condemning his incarceration and demanding his freedom. The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) also issued a statement on Tuesday, urging his release and advocating for an end to policies that suppress critical voices.

The artist appeared before a Casablanca Court of First Instance judge on Wednesday. The hearing was adjourned until July 22, allowing him time to prepare his defense, especially given that lawyers in Morocco have been on strike for the past month.