Morocco: Report shows anti-migrant rhetoric normalised online

A recent analysis of online hate speech against migrants in Morocco indicates that anti-migrant discourse in the state has evolved into a digital ecosystem in which repeated misinformation, hate speech and discriminatory narratives contribute to the normalisation of hostility towards migrants.

On July 24th, Yabiladi, a Moroccan-friendly outlet, reported the latest results of the Migrapress barometer, which monitors online hateful rhetoric in Morocco towards migrants. This includes content that incites violence, spreads false or unverified information, and viral posts.

An assessment of online discourse revealed that 76.4% of the content involved hate, stigmatisation, discrimination, or incitement to violence, with 72.4% displaying medium to high intensity. Furthermore, 65.1% contained false or unverified information.

Security and crime accounted for nearly 40% of the content analysed. Compared with the first edition of the barometer in early 2026, the authors note a shift from a rise in hate to the “gradual institutionalisation of digital communities” that focus on creating and disseminating anti-migrant narratives.

The report emphasises the “structuring role of disinformation in fostering rejection of migrants”, highlighting an active, “highly polarised digital space” in which the most radical content becomes the “most viral.” Furthermore, it highlights that “emotional intensity” plays a more significant role in driving virality than false news.

The report summarises: “Dominant emotions include anger, fear, and appeals to authority, reflecting an emotional economy that fuels radicalisation dynamics.”

A key takeaway is that “counter-narratives remain weak and struggle to counter negative storylines”, which contributes to the “gradual normalisation of discriminatory discourse.”

The authors urge moving past outrage to explore how stigma and discrimination against immigrants occur. They emphasise that effective responses should promote democratic dialogue grounded in facts over rumours, maintaining the non-negotiable dignity of all.

Hassan Bentaleb, the head of Migrapress, told Yabiladi that a key discovery of this study is the idea that “hatred spreads not just because information is false,” but largely because it “triggers very strong emotions.”

Bentaleb also explains that “Disinformation does more than spread falsehoods; it gradually moulds perceptions of others, making rejection more acceptable in public discourse.”

He explains hate speech’s mechanism further by saying it isn’t “always overt insults or explicit violence calls. It often builds through small falsehoods, out-of-context videos, distorted figures, or generalisations that collectively forge a negative image.”

Responding to the minimisation of the impact of online narratives, Bentaleb stresses the need for perspective, noting, “an active minority can create substantial content, making it seem like a majority opinion.”

Bentaleb warns that the repetition of online narratives becomes “ordinary opinions,” stressing that “normalisation should concern us, as words shape behaviour, and behaviour can influence public policy.”