Amsterdam festival reports vlogger who urged others to record Muslim women

The Amsterdam festival Layluna is pressing charges against a vlogger who urged others on social media to film “stoute zusjes,” which translates to “naughty sisters” and refers to Muslim women behaving in ways the vlogger considers inappropriate. The man involved is Youness Ouaali, known for exhibiting Muslim women who are then publicly condemned for their behavior or appearance, NOS reports.

Ouaali made the call on Snapchat. On Sunday, drone images were recorded on the festival site without permission. It is unclear who recorded the footage and whether it is linked to the vlogger, the broadcaster said. Ouaali told NOS that he had done nothing wrong.

Layluna organizer Aniss Bourajjaj, better known as Glades, was not aware of Ouaali’s call before the festival. He was informed about it during the festival, after which he briefed security and instructed them not to allow Ouaali onto the site.

The drone footage recorded at the festival surfaced later. “That happened without the permission of the organization,” Glades told NOS. “We are very sorry that this happened.” Drone recordings during an event or above a temporarily cordoned-off area are illegal without permission.

A festival employee told NOS that Ouaali offered people money to make recordings at the festival. “People did not come to the festival out of fear,” the employee said. “During the festival, women came to us because they thought they were being filmed or chased by a drone.”

Layluna took place for the first time this year. The festival, which is aimed at Middle Eastern and North African audiences, attracted a large turnout with a line-up that included DYSTINCT, Inez, Marwa Loud, Josylvio, and Ismo.