Freemuse has previously reported about El Haked’s arrest in Casablanca on 9 September 2011. The rapper is accused of physically attacking and injuring somebody in a scuffle, but many believe the case to be a setup because of the rapper’s daring lyrics criticizing the regime. El Haked is one of the most famous rappers of the Moroccan protest movement called ‘20th February Movement’.

Unlawful detention
During the last few days, several sources have reported to Freemuse that El Haked and his defense had an appointment with the judge on Tuesday 28 November. However – neither the complainant nor his counsel or the main witnesses appeared. “The judge had promised fixing a date for the trial in two days at the most, because the detention became unlawful”, reports journalist Omar Radi to Freemuse. “Two days have passed, and Thursday the same judge refused to answer questions from lawyers, while keeping Lhaked in prison.”

Possible release?
There is an unconfirmed rumor that El Haked might be released within shortly. “The political situation is becoming more stable and after the last elections the government has started to show a softer approach concerning the prisoners of conscience”, says journalist Saïd Khatibi to Freemuse. “From what I have heard, the Moroccan rapper El Haked is to be released one of these days.”