News stories world-wide About music censorship About Freemuse Publications Study room Activities Links Press room

MOROCCO Morocco: Rapper El Haked is finally set free After spending more than four months in jail, rapper Mouad El Haked is finally a free man. His supporters claim that the assault charges were a setup to muzzle the popular singer 12 January 2012 Morocco: Call for immediate release of rapper Several web sites has published a call for immediate release of rapper & pro-democracy activist Mouad « L7a9d » Belghouate. 22 December 2011 Morocco: Surprise hearing of Mouad El Haked After being held in custody for three months, the court in Casablanca opened the case of El Haked on 6 December – without informing his lawyers, or his family. Supporters are organizing solidarity manifestations. 16 December 2011 Morocco: El Haked is unlawfully kept in detention Moroccan rapper El Haked is still kept in detention, waiting for the judge to set a date for his trial. 05 December 2011 Morocco: Rapper allegedly set up and arrested 24-year-old rapper Lhaqed (real name: Moad Belghouat) was set up by authorities and then arrested, wrote the journalist and political activist Ghassan Waïl 13 September 2011 Freemuse: Young Arab leaders discussed music censorship Music censorship in the Middle East and North Africa was in focus at a Stockholm seminar on 12 June 2009, rounding up a ‘Young Leaders’ training programme 17 June 2009 The Middle East: New restrictions on satellite tv Freedom of expression in the Middle East suffered a major setback on 12 February 2008 when 21 information ministers of the Arab League agreed on a new satellite tv charter 20 February 2008 Morocco: In jail for singing anti-monarchy protest chants Seven Moroccans have been imprisoned for, on 1 May 2007, chanting protest slogans against the monarchy and for freedom of expression 03 October 2007 Rèda Zine During Morocco trial rock and heavy metal musicians were accused of Satanism, "acts capable of undermining the faith of a Muslim" and "possessing objects which infringe morals". Interview in French 15 November 2005 Moroccan musicians and fans free The fourteen heavy metal musicians and fans were arrested in February in Casablanca and sentenced to jail from 2 months to 1 year 08 April 2003 Moroccan heavy fans jailed Fans have been jailed in Casablanca for moral and religious crimes. According to the judge, "normal people go to concerts in a suit and tie" 07 March 2003