Moroccan influencer Soukaina Benjelloun released after defamation sentence
Moroccan influencer Soukaina Benjelloun, widely known on social media as “the woman behind the most expensive divorce in Morocco,” has been freed from Oukacha prison in Casablanca after serving a three month sentence for defamation against her former husband. Her release closes a chapter in a case that shifted from family court proceedings to criminal prosecution before unfolding publicly across digital platforms.
Video footage circulated by Moroccan media and online creators showed Benjelloun leaving the prison in tears, without relatives or friends waiting outside. Instead, she was met by cameras and reporters, a scene that contrasted sharply with the intense online attention that once amplified her voice during her highly publicized marital dispute.
In her first remarks after regaining her freedom, Benjelloun described her time in detention as a difficult ordeal that profoundly altered her outlook. She spoke of missing her children and mourning the loss of family stability following the divorce and subsequent legal battles. According to her statements, the experience forced her to reconsider her decisions and the consequences of airing private matters in public.
She also expressed regret over her conduct toward her ex husband, acknowledging what she described as serious mistakes. In emotional messages shared online, she addressed him directly, declaring that she still loves him and hopes for reconciliation despite the divorce. She vowed not to repeat the actions that fueled their conflict, using a phrase that quickly spread across social networks in which she asked to be taken back and promised it would not happen again.
The case drew national attention not only because of the criminal conviction but also due to the substantial financial ruling issued earlier by the family court. Her former husband had been ordered to pay 720,000 dirhams, including 700,000 dirhams in compensation and 20,000 dirhams related to housing. The scale of that award contributed to the label of “most expensive divorce,” a description that initially elevated her profile online.
From a legal standpoint, the correctional court of first instance in Aïn Sebaâ sentenced Benjelloun to three months in prison for defamation tied to videos and posts targeting her ex husband. In a related cross complaint, he received a one month suspended sentence and a fine. The proceedings underscored the potential criminal consequences of disputes that migrate from private life to public digital platforms.
Since her release, Moroccan news outlets and YouTube channels have revisited the story as an example of how quickly public narratives can shift. Observers point to the contrast between her earlier image as a beneficiary of a high value divorce settlement and her current posture of contrition after serving a custodial sentence. For many, the episode highlights the fragile boundary between online influence, personal conflict and legal accountability in Morocco’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.
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