The Moroccan Human Rights Association has called for the immediate release of activist Mourad Hbale, who is currently held in pre-trial detention at the Al-Oudaya prison. The association asserts that his legal troubles stem from posts he made on social media regarding the migration crisis in Ceuta. They have emphasized the necessity of respecting his right to freedom of speech and expression, along with ensuring fair trial conditions.
Mourad Hbale was arrested on Wednesday, August 5, and subsequently appeared before the Marrakech Court of First Instance on Thursday, August 7, 2026. The court has since postponed the hearing until Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
In a statement received by the newspaper “Voice of Morocco,” the Marrakech branch of the Moroccan Human Rights Association expressed their deep concern and condemnation regarding the arrest of Mourad Hbale. They elaborated that the reasons for his detention are linked to certain posts on social media, noting that these writings do not contain any incitement to hatred or racism, nor do they advocate for violence in any form.
The public prosecutor has decided to charge Hbale with “inciting the commission of a felony or misdemeanor using an electronic means that meets the publicness requirement,” according to Article 299-1 of the Moroccan Penal Code.
The Moroccan Human Rights Association has argued that writing and posting in the digital space are legitimate behaviors that are integral to the freedom of speech and expression, provided they do not incite violence, hatred, or racism. They stressed that this freedom is guaranteed both constitutionally and internationally.
The association views the prosecution of an individual based on their digital expressions as a “severe and blatant violation of the right to freedom of speech and expression” as enshrined in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. They also consider this a breach of the spirit of the Moroccan Constitution, especially concerning rights and freedoms.
Criticism of Pre-Trial Detention
The Moroccan Human Rights Association criticized the decision to prosecute Hbale while in custody, contending that resorting to pre-trial detention in such cases “exposes the arbitrary nature of the procedures and underscores the continued security approach to peaceful expression.” In this context, they called for the release of Mourad Hbale and for him to be granted all conditions for a fair trial, condemning what they described as the “arbitrary detention” of the young man while he faces charges.
The association believes that closing off the digital space through arrests and judicial proceedings undermines any claims or assertions of protecting freedoms and human rights. They added that this situation reveals the official discourse's hypocrisy regarding adherence to international covenants. Furthermore, they reiterated their demand for respecting freedom of speech and the right to dissent, asserting that these rights are essential components of democratic practice and the foundation of exercising rights and freedoms.
They warned that the ongoing “muzzling of voices” and the “closure of public and digital spaces” alongside a punitive security approach places Morocco in stark contradiction to its international obligations and exacerbates the trust crisis between the youth and institutions.
In conclusion, the Moroccan Human Rights Association, Marrakech branch, called upon democratic and human rights forces to stand in solidarity with Mourad Hbale and confront what they described as violations targeting the right to free expression, underscoring that this right is “a fundamental entitlement that cannot be restricted or diminished.”
As reported by thevoice.ma.
