The public prosecutor at the Rabat Court of First Instance decided on Monday, January 12, 2026, to place Algerian YouTuber and influencer Raouf Belkacemi in pre-trial detention and to refer him to court while in custody, in connection with allegations of behaviour deemed contrary to public morals inside a sports venue.
The case follows the widespread circulation of a video on social media showing Belkacemi engaging in conduct considered inappropriate in the stands of the Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium, during the match between Algeria and the DR Congo, played as part of the round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
According to Moroccan media sources, the Algerian YouTuber faces several charges, including acts contrary to morals and public decency in a public place, public indecency, and damage to a public facility—offences punishable under the Moroccan Criminal Code.
Judicial police services had arrested Belkacemi in the city of Casablanca on the night of January 7, before transferring him to the public prosecutor’s office in Rabat.
The case has seen rapid developments. Belkacemi was initially released on provisional bail, before the prosecutor decided to place him back in custody following a procedural review of the case file.
A highly followed figure on social media, Belkacemi has more than 1.4 million followers, a factor that has given the case significant media exposure and public attention.
The Rabat Court of First Instance is expected to examine the case in the coming days, pending a final ruling.
Meanwhile, the Algerian national team exited the Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Morocco at the quarter-final stage, following a 2–0 defeat to Nigeria.
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