Morocco World News
New York, May 11, 2012
Moroccan rapper Mouad Belghouat was sentenced to one year in prison, MAP reported on Friday.
Charged with attacking the image of Morocco’s security services, the rapper was denied bail by the Casablanca court in early April on the grounds he presented a risk to the public order.
Mouad Belghouat was apprehended on March 29 following a lawsuit that was filed against him by Morocco’s National Security agency, and was tried for insulting state employees.
The charge against Belghouat stems from a YouTube video of one of his songs, which includes images of Moroccan police officers.
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 was accompanied by photos considered as insulting to the police.
It is worth mentioning that Belghouat’s troubles with justice are 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.
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