Latest news with #Assabah
Ya Biladi
16-07-2025
- Ya Biladi
Quebec court convicts Moroccan YouTuber Hicham Jerando for defaming Casablanca lawyer
On Monday, July 14, the Quebec Superior Court in Canada convicted Moroccan YouTuber Hicham Jerando, who lives in Montreal, of defaming Casablanca lawyer Adil Said Lamtiri. The case stems from a lawsuit filed by Lamtiri following a series of offensive and misleading videos posted by Jerando on his YouTube channel, «Tahadi» according to Moroccan daily Assabah. The court ordered Jerando to pay a total of 164,514 Canadian dollars in damages, covering financial, moral, and punitive compensation, and mandated the removal of all defamatory content. The judgment is immediately enforceable, even if appealed. Notably, in May, the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal in Rabat sentenced Jerando in absentia to 15 years in prison. He was convicted of «forming a terrorist group to prepare and commit terrorist acts as part of a collective project aimed at seriously undermining public order through intimidation, threats, and violence», as well as inciting others to commit terrorist offenses. Jerando is known for his videos criticizing Moroccan authorities and is also the main suspect in a separate case involving harassment and extortion. That investigation was launched after a citizen filed a complaint alleging she and her family were subjected to threats, defamation, and blackmail by an organized group allegedly led by the YouTuber.
Morocco World
07-07-2025
- Morocco World
Algerian Arrested in Ceuta Over Child Sex Abuse Allegations
Spanish authorities in Ceuta have detained an Algerian migrant residing at a temporary shelter following allegations of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy. Police investigations suggest the suspect initially engaged in inappropriate touching before escalating to full sexual assault at the shelter, according to Moroccan newspaper Assabah. Security sources indicate the man may be part of a wider network of Algerian nationals suspected of similar abuses against underage migrants, with most victims reportedly aged under 16. Authorities are working to identify other potential members of the alleged abuse ring. The suspect has reportedly refused to disclose information about accomplices. Investigators believe the network targets vulnerable migrants who are unaccompanied minors, luring them with false promises of legal residency or financial incentives before assaulting them in private apartments or within the temporary shelter system. The arrest follows heightened security operations in Ceuta, where police recently detained two other Algerians linked to separate gender-based violence cases. Authorities have increased surveillance around migrant shelters in response. Said El Azouzi, head of the Al Chamaa Association for Education and Culture, warned that such cases show systemic failures in protecting Moroccan youth from exploitation by human trafficking networks. 'The solution can't just be policing,' he told Assabah. 'We need proper social policies and stronger family support structures to prevent children from becoming targets for these criminal groups.' The case has renewed debate about protection mechanisms for unaccompanied minor migrants in North African transit zones. Spanish and Moroccan authorities continue joint investigations.
Ya Biladi
20-06-2025
- Ya Biladi
Fez travel agency owner charged with defrauding couple over Hajj visas
The owner of a travel agency in Fez has been referred to the public prosecutor after allegedly defrauding a couple out of 264,000 dirhams intended for two Hajj visas that were never delivered. The court has postponed the hearing to June 23 to give the accused time to appoint a lawyer and review the case file. The couple filed a complaint with the police, supporting their claim with voice recordings of conversations exchanged via messaging apps, which reportedly confirmed the agreement to arrange their pilgrimage before the suspect disappeared and shut down the agency, according to the newspaper Assabah. An investigation by the Financial and Economic Crimes Unit of the Fez Security Directorate led to the arrest of the suspect, who admitted to receiving the money in installments via bank transfers to his company's account. He blamed the failure to honor the agreement on a Saudi company, claiming it had not fulfilled its end of the deal. The accused also stated that he issued six checks totaling 262,000 dirhams to the couple as a financial guarantee while awaiting the outcome of the dispute.
Ya Biladi
29-05-2025
- Ya Biladi
Kenitra : Scandal over minor's exploitation rocks hotel, five defendants in court
The primary court in Kenitra is set to deliberate today, Friday, on a case involving the assault of a minor at a three-star hotel, with five individuals implicated, including the hotel owner, according to the newspaper Assabah. The case came to light after a public altercation outside the hotel between the minor and a customer who had brought her to a room. A dispute over financial compensation led the girl to scream, drawing the attention of the General Information Services. This prompted the public prosecutor's office to open an investigation, which was carried out by the Public Morality Squad. Investigations revealed that the minor had been drinking alcohol with a young man at a bar inside a hotel in the city center. They later went to the hotel where the assault occurred, continuing to drink—an offense that has also led to charges against the bar manager. The public prosecutor has brought multiple charges against those involved, including operating a location for prostitution, facilitating the involvement of a minor in prostitution, luring a minor, assaulting her, and selling alcohol to Muslim Moroccans. The hotel owner was released on bail set at 100,000 dirhams, while the employee who rented the room without a marriage contract remains in custody. The bar manager was released on bail of 10,000 dirhams. Meanwhile, the minor's companion claims he did not know her true age, saying she lied about it.
Ya Biladi
27-05-2025
- Ya Biladi
Saudi Arabia deports Moroccans attempting pilgrimage without valid Hajj visas
Saudi authorities have detained several Moroccan nationals who violated the Ministry of Hajj's regulations by entering the Kingdom to perform the pilgrimage without an official permit. This crackdown is part of a broader security campaign targeting unauthorized pilgrims. Sources informed Assabah that these Moroccans, who had initially entered Saudi Arabia for Umrah, will face immediate deportation back to Morocco. The campaign, part of the Kingdom's efforts to strictly enforce Hajj regulations, involved extensive checks at security points, Haramain train stations, and holy sites. Violators face fines of over 26,000 Moroccan dirhams, deportation, and bans from re-entering the Kingdom for legally determined periods. These measures reflect Saudi Arabia's commitment to ensuring the safe and organized management of the Hajj season, which welcomes over 1.5 million pilgrims annually. Penalties are severe, including possible imprisonment of up to 15 years, fines of up to 1 million Saudi riyals, and the confiscation of transportation and accommodations used to facilitate these violations.
