Arrest of Mohamed Dghai: Unmasking the “YouTube” Facade in the Face of Incitement and Defamation
Mohamed Dghai, known for his activities on the “YouTube” platform, was arrested on June 25, 2025, by the judicial police in the city of Ksar al-Kabir, upon instructions from the relevant public prosecutor’s office. He has been placed under preliminary custody in connection with a case involving “disseminating false claims and facts intended to defame public officials while performing their duties.”
Initial investigations revealed that Dghai broadcast three video clips on his channel, in which he hosted three individuals—who have also been arrested—encouraging them directly to provide false narratives that tarnish the reputation of public institutions and their personnel.
In the first clip, one guest, instigated by Dghai, alleged that he had been mistreated by police officers during his custody in both Ksar al-Kabir and Casablanca, claiming he was deprived of food and medicine and subjected to violence. However, the judicial investigation conclusively disproved these allegations, demonstrating that the intent behind them was solely to damage the reputation of police officers and question the integrity of their work.
The second clip centered around claims made by another guest who alleged that security forces in Casablanca had committed “procedural irregularities” in a case involving his son, who is implicated in a theft. Administrative investigations conducted in 2024 showed that these accusations lacked any factual basis and essentially amounted to public defamation against a security institution and its personnel.
In the third clip, the incitement peaked when Dghai hosted an individual who, clearly motivated by him, made serious and unfounded accusations against 18 officials and employees of the territorial community of “Wadi al-Makhazen,” alleging embezzlement of public funds and dubious contracting, while claiming that some officials received illegal advantages. Ongoing investigations revealed that these statements fell under the category of defamation and arbitrary accusations, warranting accountability.
Dghai’s arrest and that of his associates once again highlights the dangers of the unprofessional and hostile use of social media platforms when they transform into tools for settling scores, disseminating falsehoods, and defaming public employees without legal basis. These practices undermine the principles of the rule of law and require legal firmness to ensure respect for the dignity of individuals and institutions.
In light of the proliferation of this kind of “fake journalism,” the responsibility of judicial and security authorities remains imperative in confronting anyone attempting to undermine citizens’ trust in their institutions through disinformation and incitement under the guise of freedom of expression, which is in reality, a deceptive freedom cloaked in cheap and malicious content.
