Moroccan rapper charged for anti-police song

By Mourad Anouar

Morocco World News

Oklahoma City, April 5, 2012

Charged with attacking the image of Morocco’s security services, A Moroccan rapper was denied bail yesterday by A Moroccan court on the grounds the rapper presented a risk to the public order. The case was adjourned until April 16.

Mouad Belghouat was apprehended March 29 following a suit that was filed against him by Morocco’s National Security agency, and he is now being tried for insulting state employees. If charged, he may serve a prison sentence.

Known as El-Haqed, or “the enraged”, and pro-democracy February 20 movement activist, Belghouat’s songs revolve around themes of corruption and social injustice. The song for which he was arrested Wednesday was posted on the internet and was accompanied by photos considered as insulting to the police.

Belghouat’s lawyer was quoted as saying that “the montage that accompanied the song was not done by his client” adding that the whole case is “no more than a pretext to silence a very a famous activist.”

It is worth mentioning that Belghouat’s trouble is not something new. Last year, he was jailed for four months for getting into a fight with a pro government supporter in one of Casablanca’s poorest suburbs, where he now lives. Some of his supporters said then the charges were concocted.

In addition to the lack of a cohesive strategy and clear mandate, the 20 February movement lost momentum after the reforms launched by King Mohammed VI, the adoption of the new constitution and the subsequent election of the moderate Islamist Party of Justice and Development.