Disclaimer: This article contains written text and video testimony covering the topics of sexual abuse that could be triggering to some readers.
Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred has been found guilty of raping a woman in a Paris hotel in 2016. The verdict was announced by a court in Paris on Friday, and Lamjarred, who denied the allegations, showed no reaction.
He was immediately detained following the announcement of the verdict.
Lamjarred is a famous musician, and his hit song “LM3ALLEM” has been viewed over one billion times on YouTube. However, he has been a controversial figure since his arrest in 2016.
At the time, many of his fans alleged that he was the victim of a “plot” by neighboring Algeria, which has strained relations with Morocco.
Despite his charges, Lamjarred has continued to perform and release music. In fact, the first song he released after his arrest, which he dedicated to the king of Morocco, showed just how popular he remained, gaining over 140 million views.
The king of Morocco, who has awarded Lamjarred the country’s highest national honor, even intervened to cover the singer’s legal fees.
In January 2021, Lamjarred was charged with a third rape in France, adding to the multiple sexual assault charges he already faced.
Nevertheless, he was able to perform with Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe in Lebanon at the Hilton Hotel on New Year’s Eve of the same year.
Earlier this year, Lebanese singer Elissa faced backlash for collaborating with Lamjarred on a song entitled “Min Away Dekika.” The backlash was so intense that the hashtag “Elissa supports rapists” went viral on social media.
It remains to be seen if Lamjarred plans to appeal the verdict in his most recent case.
Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred has been accused of multiple sexual assault allegations and charges in the past decade. He was arrested in New York in 2010 on suspicion of beating and raping a woman. In 2016, he was charged with rape and battery of a French woman, which was later withdrawn, and he was accused of raping a French-Moroccan woman in Casablanca.
Many of the accusations have been withdrawn due to suspected out-of-court settlements or shame and pressure on the victims.
Lamjarred was recently forced to cancel a concert in Iraq due to protests.
