On May 5, 2023, the Court of First Instance in Rabat imposed a hefty fine on Moroccan YouTuber Mohamed Reda El Tauyni, amounting to 700,000 dirhams (approximately 65,000 euros), for defaming Prince Moulay Hicham on social media, as reported by the Moroccan Ministry of Justice portal. The ruling mandates El Tauyni to pay a fine of 100,000 dirhams (around 9,200 euros) and to publicly announce the verdict on his social media platforms. Additionally, he is required to remove the content that contained derogatory remarks against the prince, who has also been awarded a civil compensation of 600,000 dirhams (about 55,500 euros).
Prince Moulay Hicham, a cousin of King Mohammed VI, chose to distance himself from the royal palace and pursue an academic career. He is well-known for his critiques of Morocco's political system, earning him the label of the "red prince" in the media. The case traces back to September 11, 2022, when El Tauyni uploaded a video on social media making allegations regarding significant financial transfers attributed to the prince to foreign entities.
Ten days later, Prince Moulay Hicham took to his Facebook account to announce that he had decided to seek legal recourse as a Moroccan citizen to restore his reputation. He emphasized that his actions were part of his commitment to defending his legal rights and honor, reiterating his "strong belief" in freedom of expression, which he sees as essential to pluralism and openness—provided it is exercised without resorting to discredit or defamation.
In February 2024, Mohamed Reda El Tauyni was sentenced to two years in prison for defaming Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi, whom he accused of being involved in a drug trafficking case. However, on July 30 of the same year, he received a royal pardon.
As reported by swissinfo.ch.
