: The city also faced challenges with viral misinformation. For instance, reports of the "mysterious disappearance" of high-profile foreign visitors caused temporary alarm before police investigations, such as those detailed by the Agadir Security Prefecture , clarified that these individuals were safe and had simply changed locations voluntarily.
: A diplomatic and legal tension arose when Moroccan authorities requested that Belgium press charges. However, Belgium declined because the content, while controversial and damaging, did not violate Belgian law at the time. Broader Context of 2021 Scandals in Agadir belguel moroccan scandal from agadir 2021
Philippe Servaty, a Belgian journalist, traveled to Agadir multiple times and engaged in sexual acts with local women, photographing and filming them. : The city also faced challenges with viral misinformation
Dubbed the (after the prominent Belguel family, proprietors of a major real estate and import-export empire), the affair exposed a tangled web of influence that reached from the municipal council of Agadir-Ida Ou Tanane to the corridors of power in Rabat. For Moroccans, the Belguel case became a symbol of the struggle between the old guard of Makhzen-affiliated businessmen and a new generation of digital activists determined to expose impunity. For Moroccans, the Belguel case became a symbol
: The scandal gained traction after specific videos were circulated, often targeting young women. In Moroccan society, these leaks are viewed with extreme severity due to cultural and legal norms surrounding public "modesty" and digital privacy. Legal Consequences
The spark that lit the fire was an incident involving a Belgian-Moroccan influencer (later identified as "S.B." by Belgian media). According to police reports (leaked to TelQuel and Hespress ), the influencer attempted to enter a private beach resort without a ticket. When a local security guard stopped him, a brawl broke out. The influencer allegedly called friends, and a mob of Belgian-Moroccan youths stormed the gate.
Redouane Belguel, however, had already left the country in September via Casablanca, flying to Paris on a Moroccan diplomatic passport—a privilege he claimed was obtained “legally” due to his role as an economic advisor to a former minister. The controversy over the misuse of diplomatic passports for businessmen became a secondary scandal, dubbed “Passeportgate.”