Belgian-Moroccan Restaurateur Jailed in Morocco Over Social Media Posts

Abbes Elkhalil, the owner of La Mamounia, the Moroccan restaurant on Rue de la Madeleine, is no longer free to move about. Arrived in Morocco, his country of origin to settle an inheritance issue, this Belgian-Moroccan would have been arrested for making statements contrary to Moroccan law on social networks, then sentenced to one year in prison and a heavy fine, his relatives confide to La Dernière Heure. Still according to his relatives, he would have appealed this decision. The procedure would still be ongoing.

The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of the incarceration of the Belgian-Moroccan. "The FPS Foreign Affairs has recently been informed of the detention of Mr. Abbes El Khalil in Morocco," confirms Nicolas Fierens Gevaert, spokesperson for this ministry. And to add: "The Belgian embassy in Rabat will try to get in touch with him in the context of consular assistance, as the FPS Foreign Affairs does for Belgians detained abroad. As this is an individual case, the FPS Foreign Affairs does not make any further comments".

As this is a strictly private matter, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is playing the card of caution. It remains to be seen whether Elkhalil will prevail and be released from prison soon to reopen his restaurant, which has been closed for four months.