A 24-year-old Montreal man has been arrested and charged with criminal defamation after posting videos on social media that insulted police officers.
Mohamed Bekkali appeared in court following his arrest on July 2, 2026.
He faces three counts of publishing defamatory libel against three officers from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM).
The alleged incidents occurred on June 13 and 14 in Montreal.
They stemmed from previous interactions, including a traffic stop filmed in summer 2025 and released on TikTok in March.
Under Article 298 of the Criminal Code, defamatory libel covers published material without justification that harms someone's reputation by exposing them to hatred, contempt, or ridicule.
Bekkali was released under a promise to refrain from posting content regarding police work. If convicted, he faces a maximum prison sentence of two years.
Investigators noted that recent posts targeting police involved artificial intelligence. The court ordered the removal of most published videos.
Authorities had previously identified Bekkali in connection with suspected financial fraud involving fake identities and driver's licenses amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Mayor and Officials Respond
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada addressed the case while attending the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom.
She emphasized that disrespect toward law enforcement will not be tolerated.
"The arrest and charges brought today show that there are limits that must not be crossed," said Mayor Martinez Ferrada.
"It sends a clear message that respect for our police officers is not negotiable. It was the right thing to do."
The mayor affirmed that municipal leaders continue to work alongside the police brotherhood and the SPVM to craft a city bylaw explicitly prohibiting verbal abuse against officers during interventions.
"This bylaw is important, but it must be done well, and we will have time to work with the Police Brotherhood and the SPVM," said Martinez Ferrada.
"We need to find a way to do it right so that it is not challenged in court and is easy to apply."
A June online Léger survey conducted for the Police Brotherhood showed that 70 percent of Montreal residents support the proposed anti-insult regulation.
Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière also supported the measure on social media platform X.
Following public outcry over the original viral video, Bekkali defended his actions on social media as an exercise of free speech to highlight police misconduct.
"My words, what did they do?"
written statements from Bekkali stated as he cited the death of Nooran Rezayi during a September 2025 police intervention in Longueuil.
Bekkali questioned the public focus on his comments relative to incidents of physical force involving authorities.
"So freedom of expression bothers you more than police brutality, whose victims are either traumatized for life or no longer in this world, as in the case of little Nooran Rezayi?"
Bekkali wrote.
