A French-Algerian influencer has been sentenced to one year in prison and ordered to pay a fine of approximately £162 (MAD 2,000) in Morocco after posting a critical video about her experiences in Marrakech. Yass Naubelle, 30, was apprehended by Moroccan border officials on June 13 as she was preparing to board a flight back to France.
The content creator's video, which has since been deleted, reportedly criticized local authorities and raised concerns about driving standards in Marrakech. Naubelle, who has 21,000 followers on TikTok, described the driving as "super dangerous" with cars and mopeds operating without helmets and carrying children, swerving suddenly. She also suggested that some traffic police officers stopped women without cause to solicit money.
Authorities deemed the video "defamatory towards Moroccan citizens" and "outraging to the forces of order." Following her arrest, Naubelle was taken into police custody to determine the "real motivations behind these criminal acts." She appeared in a flagrant délits (immediate offence) hearing from detention.
On Monday, June 22, the Marrakech Court of First Instance delivered the sentence for defamation, insults to Moroccan citizens, and undermining a public institution. Naubelle has 10 days to appeal the ruling. As of the report, there has been no immediate comment from Naubelle or her representatives.
This case follows a similar incident earlier this year where a British man, Sam Rushton, 20, was arrested in Marrakech after filming himself distributing supplies to children. Rushton was detained for several hours, had his passport and phone seized, and was accused of "bringing shame" on the country and recording children without consent. He was eventually released and returned to Britain after his mother intervened.