Moroccan Court Reduces Sentence for Rappers in Controversial Song Case

The Court of Appeal in Fez has re-evaluated the charges against the rappers and decided to reduce their sentence to four months in prison. The two rappers, accused of "inciting minors under 18 to prostitution or debauchery, inciting the commission of a crime or offense by an electronic means fulfilling the condition of publicity, and participating in such acts", had been sentenced on April 29 by the court of first instance in Fez to two years in prison and a fine of 500,000 dirhams each. The judge had also ordered the removal of the controversial song from YouTube.

The two rappers had been arrested following several complaints filed by civil society actors with the public prosecutor’s office, demanding the withdrawal of the song "Sher Zidi Kobi Atay" which had gone viral on YouTube and other download platforms, and whose lyrics they consider to be inciting "corruption and prostitution" and undermining moral values. Human rights activists had also called for the removal of this song, accusing the rappers of encouraging the rape of minors and debauchery.