Overview
- Lmrabet was stopped on arrival from Barcelona and detained at Tangier airport on Sunday before being moved to the Judicial Police in Casablanca to remain in custody.
- Moroccan state outlets and the public prosecutor have attributed the case to alleged defamation, insults or the dissemination of false information against state institutions while formal charges have not been publicly detailed by judicial authorities.
- His family says investigators told him he faces accusations tied to publishing false information and that he has been able to speak briefly with relatives and arrange his own defense.
- Reporters Without Borders, the Moroccan Association for Human Rights and Catalan press bodies have called for his release and for due process guarantees, and Spain’s foreign minister has said Madrid is seeking details.
- Lmrabet is a long‑time critic who has lived in Barcelona since 2005, was previously jailed and banned from journalism in Morocco, and his detention highlights persistent tensions over press freedom and could strain consular and diplomatic dealings between Spain and Morocco.