In a significant legal ruling, Moroccan authorities have condemned YouTuber Mohamed Reda El Tauyni for defamation after he made several accusations against Prince Moulay Hicham, a cousin of King Mohammed VI, on social media. The court's decision, which includes a substantial financial penalty and a mandate to remove the defamatory content, has sparked criticism among El Tauyni's followers regarding the constraints of free speech when discussing state figures.
The Court of First Instance in Rabat issued its verdict on Tuesday, imposing a total fine of 700,000 Moroccan dirhams, which is approximately 65,000 euros at current exchange rates. This amount comprises a criminal fine of 100,000 dirhams and a civil compensation of 600,000 dirhams payable to Prince Moulay Hicham. Furthermore, the ruling requires El Tauyni to publicly share the court's decision on his social media platforms and to delete all posts identified as offensive.
The controversy originated on September 11, when El Tauyni released a video accusing the prince of allegedly making multimillion-dollar transfers abroad. In response to the claims, Moulay Hicham took to Facebook ten days later to announce his intention to seek legal recourse to protect his reputation as a Moroccan citizen.
For years, Moulay Hicham has maintained a degree of distance from the Royal Palace and has been known for his critiques of the country's political system, focusing instead on his academic pursuits. Following the ruling, discussions have resurfaced regarding El Tauyni's legal history. In February 2024, he was previously sentenced to two years in prison for defaming Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi, linking him to a drug trafficking case. However, he was granted a royal pardon just months later, on July 30 of that same year.
This new ruling adds to Mohamed Reda El Tauyni's legal record, and it remains to be seen whether facing the law again will prompt the YouTuber to alter his content approach.
As reported by larazon.es.
