Algerian columnist Mehdi Ghezzar has come under fire for a recent tirade against Morocco on the French channel RMC's Les Grandes Gueules. In a subsequent broadcast on the Algerian public channel AL24 News, Ghezzar made numerous false claims, particularly regarding the role of royal advisor André Azoulay. Ghezzar accused Azoulay of censoring the Moroccan people and preventing them from speaking out against Israel's war crimes. On social media, French and bi-national political figures are intensifying calls for private French-Monégasque radio station RMC to take action against Mehdi Ghezzar after his appearance on Algerian public television, where he launched a diatribe against Morocco. A regular on RMC's Les Grandes Gueules program, the Algerian columnist used AL24 News to make a series of accusations and derogatory remarks about Morocco, the Moroccan people, King Mohammed VI, and his advisor, André Azoulay. Highlighting the advisor's Jewish faith, Ghezzar spread false information about the Moroccan government's censorship of its citizens regarding Palestine. He claimed that demonstrations were banned by an alleged «royal decree» supported by Azoulay. In reality, pro-Palestinian rallies opposing normalization with Israel occur regularly in Morocco. Conversely, Algeria has banned such demonstrations in response to the Israeli war against Gaza, fearing a shift from supportive protests to political rallies similar to the Hirak movement. AL24 News est une chaîne satellitaire d'information en continu de la télévision publique algérienne. Chacun déballe son antisémitisme. Ici, pas de sous-texte, pas de lapsus, nul besoin d'un décodeur, les programmes sont en clair. Et en Français. https://t.co/a2LYhshnDp — Dominique Reynié (@DominiqueReynie) August 27, 2024 Ghezzar has previously involved his wife, Hana Ghezzar Bouakkaz, in his anti-Moroccan campaigns. Since 2023, Bouakkaz has worked for RMC and was involved in controversy regarding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif at the 2024 Olympics. RMC is facing scrutiny over its stance on Ghezzar's false claims. The columnist recently described Morocco as «teleguided» by Israel and under the influence of a «foreign party», attributing Algeria's resistance to «Zionist diktat» as a reason for its targeting. In a video of the show shared on X, comments alleged that André Azoulay held Israeli nationality and had censored the Moroccan people. RMC under fire These remarks have not gone unnoticed in France. On social media, bi-national individuals and French public figures are urging RMC to address Ghezzar's statements. Eric Ciotti, President of the Republicans (LR), voiced «total support for André Azoulay» and condemned Ghezzar's «shameful» anti-Semitic comments. «His remarks are unacceptable and despicable. I urge RMCInfo to suspend this columnist immediately», Ciotti declared. Soutien total à André Azoulay, conseiller du Roi du Maroc, honteusement attaqué par Mehdi Ghezzar sur un média algérien. Ses propos antisémites sont inadmissibles et ignobles. J'appelle @RMCInfo à suspendre immédiatement ce chroniqueur qui a tenu également des propos infâmes… — Eric Ciotti (@ECiotti) August 27, 2024 Other users are encouraging viewers to contact RMC's switchboard to question Ghezzar directly. Dominique Reynié, a political scientist and director of La Fondation pour l'innovation politique (FondaPol), noted that AL24 News is an Algerian public channel. «There's no subtext or need for decoding; the anti-Semitism is explicit», he said. Ce sinistre personnage Mehdi Ghezzar s'attaque maintenant au conseiller du Roi du Maroc qui est de confession juif et en proférant des mensonges. Un mélange d'antisémitisme et de haine anti-marocains…il vocifère sa haine . Est ce que vous soutenez ces mensonges et ces insultes… https://t.co/DmqgYbWKS5 — Naïma M'Faddel (@naimamfaddel) August 27, 2024 Naïma M'Faddel, an LR member responsible for urban equity in Eure-et-Loir, criticized Ghezzar as a «sinister character» spewing lies. «A mix of anti-Semitism and anti-Moroccan hatred... he vociferates his hatred», she said, urging RMC to clarify its position on his remarks.
