Morocco’s ex-con YouTubers in the spotlight

Bentazout, released in 2020 after 20 years in jail, stands inside a replica of his cell he built in his family house in the city of Kenitra. Convicted of murder in the 1990s, the 57-year-old former boxer has always claimed his innocence and is working to have his case reviewed and name cleared. His appearances on YouTube allow him to reach a 'large audience in Morocco and around the world', Bentazout said. — AFP

RABAT: Moroccan former prisoners have moved out of their jail cells into the social media spotlight by sharing their thug life experiences on YouTube, making them minor celebrities.

“You had to be a real ace to sell drugs in prison like I did,” boasts Mohamed Moustadraf, 48, one of a host of ex-cons turned online storytellers.