Rabat – Morocco’s Press Union issued a press release, condemning “insults” made by Moroccan rapper ElGrande Toto against journalists during his trial.
The union claimed that Toto verbally attacked journalists reporting on his trial, and that he tried to threathen them and prevent them from conducting their duties.
The union’s press release said that it “respects the right to a fair trial,” but that it also considers covering events that interest the general public one of the duties of a journalist, adding that it does not accept any aggression towards reporters from the defendant.
The rapper is on bail after a group of artists and lawyers filed lawsuits against him for insults and for his recent remarks promoting the use of cannabis. He made the remarks during a press conference prior to a public concert as part of a government sponsored festival.
“We don’t go very far to get weed, it’s just around the corner,” Toto said as part of the Rabat African Capital Festival.
“It is known worldwide that Morocco is the birthplace of weed, and people from all over the world come to Morocco to smoke weed,” he went on.
The statements were met with public disapproval, followed by condemnation from the Moroccan government, which described them as “unaccpetable.”
The rapper apologized for the statements in October, but emphasized that he will continue “expressing his art without any modifications.”
