Marrakech National Security Arrests Algerian YouTuber Rachid Negaz Over Provocative Statemen (video)ts

Marrakech, March 17, 2025 – Moroccan authorities in Marrakech, specifically National Security forces in the Jamaa El Fna district, have arrested Algerian YouTuber Rachid Negaz following a series of inflammatory videos that targeted Moroccan national identity and historical landmarks. The arrest, confirmed by security sources on Monday, stems from Negaz’s provocative claims, including assertions that the iconic Koutoubia Mosque has Algerian origins, made during a video recorded in front of the 12th-century landmark.

المدعو #رشيد_نكاز قبل أسبوع قام بالاستهزاء بالمغاربة?? بخصوص أضحية العيد ،
واليوم وبأوامر من المخابرات الجزائرية?? ينتقل مباشرةً إلى مدينة مراكش ليستفز الشعب المغربي?? من داخل بيته.
وصف صومعة الكتبية بأن الجزائريون?? هم من بنوها، تم قال بان المغرب?? مستعمر للصحراء منذ 1975. pic.twitter.com/lQngtKWCPO — Raymond Sadik.?? (@RaymondSadik) March 17, 2025

Incident Details and Provocations

Negaz, known for his controversial online presence, first drew widespread backlash last week when he mocked Moroccans over Eid al-Adha sacrifices, igniting outrage on social media platforms like X. Escalating his rhetoric, he traveled to Marrakech and posted a new video outside the Koutoubia Mosque, claiming Algerians built the structure and alleging that Morocco has been “colonizing the Sahara since 1975.” These statements, shared widely on X, triggered a flood of condemnation from Moroccans, who viewed them as deliberate provocations aimed at undermining national unity.

Posts on X, such as @MoroccoIntel’s at 9:30 AM PDT, described the video as “a clear attempt to incite hatred and disrupt Morocco’s stability.” The Koutoubia Mosque, a UNESCO-listed symbol of Moroccan heritage dating to the Almohad dynasty, holds profound cultural and religious significance, making Negaz’s claims particularly sensitive. His remarks also touch on the long-standing dispute over Western Sahara, where Morocco and Algeria hold opposing stances, with Rabat claiming sovereignty and Algiers supporting the Polisario Front.

Arrest and Investigation

National Security forces detained Negaz on Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Marrakech’s bustling Jamaa El Fna area, a popular tourist hub near the mosque. Security sources, speaking anonymously to local media and X users like @MarocSecNews, confirmed the arrest and stated that investigations are underway to uncover Negaz’s motives and potential backers. He faces potential charges of incitement to hatred and stirring tensions between Moroccans and Algerians, with authorities promising swift judicial action.

Negaz’s arrest coincides with heightened tensions between Morocco and Algeria, exacerbated by France’s July 2024 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, prompting Algiers to recall its ambassador from Paris and sever consular ties with southern French cities, per RFI reports. Posts on X, including @AlgeriePatriote’s, suggest Negaz’s actions may reflect broader Algerian-Moroccan rivalries, though no evidence links him to official Algerian entities as of today.

Regional and Historical Context

The Koutoubia Mosque, named for its proximity to a historic booksellers’ market (kutubiyyin in Arabic), is a 12th-century architectural marvel and a cornerstone of Moroccan identity, as detailed in Wikipedia’s entry on the landmark. Negaz’s claim of Algerian origins lacks historical basis, with scholars like those at UNESCO attributing its construction to the Almohad dynasty under Sultan Abd al-Mu’min. His Sahara remarks echo Algeria’s support for the Polisario, which declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in 1976, a move Morocco rejects, fueling decades of tension.

Morocco’s response on X, including @MoroccoMFA’s call for “respecting national symbols,” reflects public and official outrage. The incident recalls a 2021 Moroccan drone strike on Algerian trucks near Western Sahara, killing three, which Algeria condemned but did not escalate militarily, per Al Jazeera.

Implications and Public Reaction

Negaz’s arrest has galvanized Moroccans, with posts on X like @RoyaumeMaroc praising authorities for safeguarding national unity. However, it risks further straining Morocco-Algeria ties, already frayed by border closures since 1994, trade disputes, and recent U.S. and French diplomatic moves favoring Rabat. Algeria has not commented officially as of 11:30 AM PDT, but X users like @DzNewsToday speculate on potential retaliatory measures or Negaz’s release demands.

For Morocco, the episode reinforces its commitment to protecting historical and territorial integrity, while Negaz’s fate could set a precedent for handling cross-border provocations in the digital age. As investigations continue, the incident highlights the delicate balance of regional rivalries and online influence in North Africa.