Moroccan Singer’s Award Revoked Amid Rape Conviction Backlash

Civil society organizations took a dim view of the award of the "Love Brand 2025" prize by the association Les Impériales to Saad Lamjarred, an artist convicted of aggravated rape and awaiting his appeal trial. Faced with these protests, the association had to remove the promotion of this award from its platforms. In a statement, it announces that it has "engaged in internal reflection on the integration of specific ethical criteria in the process of promoting content" while respecting the public vote.

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The association nevertheless specified that the attribution of the prize to the Moroccan singer follows an "independent survey conducted each year, based on a rigorous methodology". It is a "spontaneous and non-directed survey, designed without a pre-established list or suggestions", leaving the respondents the freedom to designate their favorite brands and personalities, it added. It assures that it has neither "selected, nor influenced, nor modified" the results obtained. It claims to have limited itself to their publication, in compliance with its principle of transparency.

The association also recalled that it is committed to promoting "the values of equality and respect", acknowledging, however, that some results may "raise questions or arouse particular sensitivities". In response to the criticism, the association announces that it has "engaged in internal reflection on the integration of specific ethical criteria in the process of promoting content" while respecting the public vote. It states that it remains "open to any reflection to promote an open and balanced debate" and thanks the signatories of the letter for their "commitment and valuable contribution".