On July 14, 2025, a ruling was issued against TikToker Hicham Girando by the Superior Court of Appeal in Montreal, Quebec, in favor of Moroccan lawyer Adil Said Lamateri.
Girando was fined and is required to issue a formal apology. He must also remove videos posted on TikTok and YouTube within three days of receiving the ruling.
Background of the Case
The case began in May 2023 when Hicham Girando launched a defamation campaign against Adil Said Lamateri, a prominent Moroccan lawyer practicing since 1995. Lamateri had no prior knowledge of Girando, indicating that the campaign was intentional and unjustified.
Girando utilized social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube to spread a series of videos and posts, accusing Lamateri of serious crimes, including bribery, money laundering, and affiliations with criminal organizations.
These accusations were unsubstantiated and appeared to be a deliberate attempt to tarnish Lamateri’s reputation. In response, Lamateri took immediate legal action, obtaining a court order on July 12, 2023, instructing Girando to cease disseminating defamatory content. Girando ignored this order, leading to his contempt ruling in January 2024.
Despite a halt in defamation for a year and a half, Girando resumed posting further accusations in February 2025, prompting Lamateri to strengthen his legal claims.
Girando Lacks Evidence
The court emphasized the balance between the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the right to protection from defamation. Girando’s actions were evaluated against a reasonable person standard, which presumes individuals should act diligently and respect others’ rights.
The court conducted a thorough analysis of the evidence presented by both parties, revealing that Girando relied on unverified information, utilizing media articles and videos without credible sources to connect Lamateri to crimes like bribery and money laundering.
Among Girando’s claims, he alleged that Lamateri was linked to the Algerian intelligence agency and organized crime. He also claimed Lamateri was arrested in 2021 due to a disciplinary complaint, which disciplinary boards found to be false. Furthermore, he suggested a conflict of interest involving Lamateri and a Moroccan court without providing tangible evidence.
In contrast, Lamateri provided evidence of the psychological and social harm caused by the defamation, including public shame, social isolation, and security costs exceeding CAD 9,000. The evidence also indicated that the videos gained significant exposure within 40 days, amplifying their negative impact.
Issued Rulings
The final ruling on July 14, 2025, included several orders and compensations:
- Moral Damages: Lamateri was awarded CAD 70,000 for the psychological and social damages resulting from the defamation.
- Punitive Damages: He received CAD 85,000 as a penalty for Girando’s intentional actions, aiming to deter similar behavior.
- Security Costs: Lamateri was compensated CAD 9,148 for security expenses incurred from May 2023 to January 2024, with further examination of the period from February 2024 to January 2025 for additional evidence.
- Court Orders:
- Girando must remove all defamatory content within three days.
- A permanent ban is placed on publishing any new defamatory content against Lamateri, effective immediately.
- He must publish an official apology on the same platforms, acknowledging his errors as outlined by the court.
Legal and Social Implications
This ruling sets an important precedent in addressing online defamation in Quebec. The substantial compensations and strict court orders reflect the courts’ commitment to safeguarding personal reputations, especially in the context of unverified rumors proliferating online. The ruling further underscores the necessity of imposing punitive measures as a deterrent, particularly when defamatory actions are driven by commercial interests, as highlighted by the court’s mention of Girando’s YouTube revenues.
