A Moroccan student has been sentenced to seven years in prison after posting a comment on Facebook that was deemed a threat to activist Ahmed Assid, reigniting debates over the boundaries of free speech and online expression in the country.
The incident came to light when Casablanca lawyer Abdelrahman El Bakouri shared details of the case on Facebook. He explained that Assid had posted a video discussing inheritance, prompting the student to comment, “This person deserves to be slaughtered.” Authorities arrested the student, and a Rabat court specializing in terrorism cases handed down the sentence last week.
Lawyer Mohamed Almo, who is now part of the student’s defense team, told Hespress AR that he has filed an appeal. “We are awaiting the appellate proceedings to see what new developments may emerge,” Almo said, declining to comment further on the case’s legal aspects.
The ruling has sparked polarized reactions on social media. Some users criticized the sentence as overly harsh, especially compared to penalties for crimes like sexual assault. Others supported the court’s decision, arguing that strict action is necessary to deter extremist language and online threats.
Mohamed El Aouni, president of the Moroccan Organization for Media and Expression Freedoms, stressed the need to differentiate between free speech and harmful extremist rhetoric. “Extremism often starts with seemingly minor expressions but can escalate into dangerous actions if unchecked,” El Aouni said. He praised the legal system’s firmness in addressing such cases and called for continued vigilance.
El Aouni also highlighted the role of education in promoting tolerance and acceptance of differences. He lamented what he sees as the declining societal role of schools and universities in fostering these values. “Universities should be spaces for dialogue and the cultivation of a culture of respectful disagreement,” he said.
The case has also prompted calls for a code of ethics for publishing on social media platforms. Advocates argue that while freedom of expression must be safeguarded, it does not extend to incitement to violence or hate speech.
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