Zainab Ashouiyakh Exposes “Makhout Mo”: The End of the Extortionist is Near
Ahmed Oussar
Hicham Girando, known by his alias “Makhout Mo,” is no longer just a discordant voice on social media platforms. He has become a disturbing phenomenon in the digital space, where slander blends with falsehoods, incitement with defamation, and extortion masquerades as a defense of free speech.
This decline reached its peak with an official complaint filed by Zainab Ashouiyakh, a resident of Casablanca, to the public prosecutor at the Ain Sebaa court. She accused Girando, who resides abroad, of “defamation, slander, incitement, and endangering her life and physical safety” through a series of videos and posts on “Tahadi” and “Facebook,” which have garnered over one and a half million views.
Details of the complaint, which the newspaper obtained a copy of, reveal that Girando launched a systematic campaign against Ashouiyakh that tarnished her honor and falsely linked her to security agencies. He accused her of being involved in political and judicial cases unrelated to her, and even fabricated accusations regarding orchestrating arrests and executions without any concrete evidence.
What escalates the situation, according to the complaint, is that Girando did not stop at mere accusations. He published personal photos of the complainant accompanied by degrading phrases and obscene insinuations, leading to a wave of abusive comments and direct threats on her accounts, causing significant harm to her reputation within her social circle.
Ashouiyakh did not limit herself to recounting the facts. She supported her complaint with reports prepared by a judicial agent, documenting the content published and clearly demonstrating the public and deliberate nature of this campaign, and how Girando’s platforms turned into tools for extortion and misinformation.
In this context, the legal framework surrounding the case emerges. Articles 442, 447-1, and 299-1 of the Moroccan Penal Code criminalize these acts when committed via electronic means, categorizing them as crimes that harm honor and incite hatred.
However, what the file reveals goes beyond the mere application of legal texts. The case exposes a broader structure through which these campaigns are managed. According to media reports, Girando fled Canada after facing legal troubles related to extortion and later settled in Indonesia, where he continues to broadcast hostile content targeting Morocco and its institutions. Intelligence reports link his name to hostile foreign activities involving Iran and Algeria, utilizing digital platforms in the context of regional conflicts.
In the face of this reality, Zainab Ashouiyakh chose not to remain silent. She decided to confront this campaign legally and called for the activation of international judicial agreements, including cooperation with Canadian authorities to pursue Girando legally.
This individual step carries collective significance. The case is no longer a personal matter; it serves as a clear warning to public opinion regarding the spread of the phenomenon of “extortion in the name of free expression,” and the dangers of utilizing the digital space to settle political or personal scores.
In this context, Girando emerges as a leader of a borderless digital gang: he assaults, extorts, defames, and sows hatred, then hides behind a foreign passport while claiming to fight for rights. Yet, what he seems to ignore is that justice does not lapse over time, and hiding behind screens does not exempt one from legal accountability.
Moroccans today are more aware and informed. The rhetoric of “fake victims” no longer deceives them. Those who justify Girando’s actions under the banner of “criticism” must recognize that violating people’s dignity serves no freedom but reinforces unacceptable digital thuggery.
In light of this situation, the role of the Moroccan judiciary in enforcing firmness becomes apparent. Zainab Ashouiyakh, and anyone who has suffered harm, has the right to legal protection because Morocco is a state of institutions, and the digital space shall not be turned into a refuge for impunity and moral decline.
