Casablanca - The Algerian press hasn't given Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred the benefit of the doubt, outright calling him “the rapist singer” in its coverage of the case.
Casablanca – The Algerian press hasn’t given Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred the benefit of the doubt, outright calling him “the rapist singer” in its coverage of the case.
The Pop star was arrested Wednesday for allegedly raping and assaulting a young French woman.
Algerian publication “Algérie Patriotique,” for example, wrote an article titled, “Rapist Saad Lamjarred disguises his bestial instincts as an Algerian set up,” thus declaring Lamjarred a rapist before sufficient evidence is found and before the judge’s final ruling.
This isn’t the first time the Algerian press publishes less than credible information. According to Moroccan publication Le360, Algerian newspaper “Achorouk” recently published a made-up story about another case of sexual assault, allegedly blaming Lamjarred for assaulting a young Tunisian woman. Achorouk wrote that the case had been dropped after a private cash settlement was made between Lamjarred and the alleged victim.
In an article covering this week’s case, Achorouk introduced Lamjarred as a, “plagiarizer to whom Algeria has open its doors for him to sell his junk called art.” Algerian press has several times painted Lamjarred as a plagiarizer.
In July, that same newspaper claimed that Saad Lamjarred plagiarized his song “Ana Machi Sahel” from a Cheb Hasni song from the 90s. Tensions also grew recently when Lamjarred’s latest song, Ghaltana, mentioned a “Moroccan Sahara.”
Lamjarred is currently still under arrest until Tuesday, pending further ruling by the Paris court. The pop star is set to appear in criminal court next Tuesday. If found guilty, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
