Saudi Journalist Retracts Controversial Claims About Morocco’s Economy

"I feel no hatred towards Morocco, nor towards the Moroccan government. I have respect for the honorable Moroccans," Fahid Al Shamri said in a new video posted on his YouTube channel. The journalist assured that he was not targeting Morocco when he spoke of countries with hats. According to him, he was referring to countries colonized by Turkey, where people wore traditional hats.

"I used the term to talk about all the countries that were colonized by the Turco-Mongol [tribes]," Al Shamri tried to justify, specifying that Morocco was not one of them. "The honorable Moroccans should be proud of this fact. Saudi Arabia was also not colonized by the Turco-Mongols," he added.

In two recent videos, the Saudi journalist claimed that the bulk of money transfers from Moroccans living abroad (MREs) to the kingdom came from prostitution. According to him, Morocco "sends its women abroad to prostitute themselves." Allegations that have sparked heated controversy.