By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-17 15:59:50 | Updated at 2026-06-18 17:14:54
1 day ago
An influencer has been arrested at Marrakech Airport after posting a viral video criticising her experience in Morocco.
Yas Naubelle, 30, was stopped by border authorities on Saturday, 13 June, just moments before she was due to board a flight back to France, her home country.
While on holiday in the North African hotspot, the content creator had shared a video complaining of local driving standards, as well as accusing police officers of unfairly targeting women.
In the now-deleted video, Naubelle described the roads in Marrakech as dangerous and chaotic.
She said: 'I've never seen people drive like this. It's super dangerous - cars, mopeds without helmets, with children on board, swerving suddenly.'
Comparing Morocco with her native Algeria, she added: 'It's less bad than here.'
French-Algerian influencer Yas Naubelle, 30, was arrested on 13 June at Marrakech Airport after she'd posted a video (pictured) criticising local driving standards and the police
The content creator is currently being held in Marrakech on suspicion of publishing defamatory and insulting digital content directed toward citizens
She further alleged that a number of traffic police officers were pulling over female drivers 'for nothing' in an attempt to extort them for money.
Naubelle's content quickly triggered a national alert, leading to her interception by police at the airport.
According to Moroccan authorities, the tourist's comments were deemed 'defamatory towards Moroccan citizens' and 'outraging to the forces of order'.
Naubelle, who has more than 20,000 followers on TikTok and founded the Naubelle skincare brand, remains in custody.
She is being held on suspicion of publishing defamatory and insulting digital content directed toward citizens and undermining a public institution.
In the meantime, police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged offences.
No formal charges or court dates have been publicly announced.
Marrakech, which welcomes between 4 and 5 million tourists each year, including many from France, is known for its stringent policies surrounding social media content.
British nationals visiting Morocco are warned to exercise extreme caution when posting about local life on social media, as Moroccan authorities act swiftly and severely against sensitive commentary.
It comes months after a British man was arrested, thrown in a Moroccan jail cell and left without any way of contacting his family earlier this year 'after filming himself helping hungry children'.
Sam Rushton (pictured) was detained by Moroccan authorities after filming himself handing out basic supplies to local children in Marrakech
Sam Rushton, 20, from Ashton-under-Lyne, was detained by foreign authorities, held in jail for several hours, and had his passport and phone seized for days after he was arrested on Thursday, 5 March.
Mr Rushton, a carer, had filmed himself handing out basic supplies to local children in Marrakech using money he had raised through social media.
He felt he had to help after seeing the youngsters begging on the streets - and went to buy essentials such as nappies and milk to distribute to families in need.
However, Mr Rushton was apprehended after authorities discovered he had filmed the moment, accusing him of 'bringing shame' on the country and recording children without their consent.
He spent an evening behind bars before being released, but remained on tenterhooks in Morocco - where he said English is not widely spoken - for over a week after officers confiscated his belongings.
Finally, after an urgent appeal by his mother, Rachael Rushton, Mr Rushton was able to return to Britain.
