Moroccan Rapper Released on Bail After Arrest for Offensive Online Content

On Friday, the public prosecutor’s office at the Correctional Court of Aïn Sebaâ (Casablanca) decided to prosecute the rapper Ihab Iqbal, known as 7liwa, on provisional release, against a financial bail of 5,000 dirhams. Placed in custody on Thursday as part of the preliminary investigation, after appearing before the judicial police of the prefecture of Casablanca, he is being prosecuted for accusations of dissemination and distribution of an audiovisual composition containing offensive remarks on social networks.

The rapper 7liwa is known to the police. In October 2020, he had been arrested in Marrakech for violating the state of health emergency while filming a music video for one of his songs. In November 2021, the performer was arrested again after participating in a protest sit-in in Rabat against the mandatory vaccination pass in several public establishments.