The Moroccan community in Canada welcomes the ruling of the Canadian judiciary against Hicham Gerando and calls for respect for justice decisions.
In a notable judicial development, Moroccan associations and institutions residing in Canada welcomed the ruling issued by the Superior Court of Quebec on July 14, 2025, which convicted Hicham Gerando of defamation and moral abuse against the Moroccan lawyer residing in Canada, Professor Adel Saeed Lamterri, stemming from defamatory posts on his website.
In a joint statement issued by these organizations, they stated that “the ruling reflects the Canadian judiciary’s commitment to protecting the dignity and reputation of individuals against all forms of defamation and moral assault,” considering the judicial decision “a victory for justice and a clear stance against hate speech and slander.”
Judge Horia Pondaro, who presided over the sessions, ordered Gerando to pay financial compensation of CAD 164,514 to lawyer Lamterri for moral damages and punitive penalties. The ruling also mandated the removal of all defamatory videos published on the “Challenge” platform and prohibited the accused from republishing or broadcasting any content that directly or indirectly harms Professor Lamterri.
Despite the clarity of the judicial decision, it faced public defiance from the defendant, who, on the same day as the ruling, published a new video in which he accused the Canadian judiciary of bias, escalating his rhetoric against Professor Lamterri and announcing his refusal to comply with the court ruling while vowing to launch “a new campaign of criticism and defamation” in blatant defiance of Canada’s judicial institutions.
The Moroccan associations in Canada expressed their strong condemnation of these actions, describing them as “irresponsible” and “contrary to the values of citizenship and respect,” affirming that the majority of the Moroccan community “respects the laws of the host country and contributes effectively to its social and economic fabric.”
The statement emphasized that “individual actions of this kind do not reflect the behavior or ethics of the Moroccan community, which enjoys strong and solid relationships with various components of Canadian society.”
In conclusion, the signing associations urged the relevant Canadian authorities to take “all necessary legal measures to ensure respect for judicial decisions and to uphold the dignity of individuals,” stressing the need to protect victims from repeated digital targeting and media incitement.
