Marrakech – The Indictable Misdemeanors Chamber of the Fez Court of Appeal yesterday reduced the sentence for the two rappers behind the controversial song “Sher Zidi Kobi Atay” from two years to four months in prison each.
The court’s decision comes after the rappers, known by their stage names “Amine Grave” and “Youss 45”, were initially sentenced on April 29 by the Indictable Misdemeanors Chamber of the Court of First Instance in Fez to two years in prison and a fine of MAD 500 (approximately $50) each, in addition to the removal of the song from YouTube.
The Public Prosecution had charged the two with “inciting minors under 18 to prostitution or debauchery, inciting the commission of a felony or misdemeanor by means of an electronic medium that fulfills the condition of publicity, and participating in such acts”.
The arrest of the rappers followed complaints filed by a number of civil society activists to the Public Prosecution, demanding the removal of the song from YouTube and social media platforms due to its lyrics that were seen as contributing to “the spread of corruption and prostitution and constituting a violation of moral values”.
The controversial song had gone viral on YouTube and other social media platforms, making international headlines and prompting human rights activists to call for its removal, accusing the rappers of glorifying the rape of minors.
Many netizens described the court’s initial ruling in April as a firm response to the group’s explicit incitement of underage girls to debauchery.
The new decision by the Fez Court of Appeal to reduce the rappers’ sentences comes after a reconsideration of the charges against them.
Read also: ‘Char Kobi Atay’: Fez Court Initiates Trial of Controversial Rapper for Stirring Song
