Morocco rapper Black Wind trial postponed as release bid denied

The Casablanca Criminal Court has decided to defer the trial of rapper El Mahdi Lyoubi, known as Black Wind, to July 31. Held under charges of «insulting a constitutional institution», the rapper’s request for conditional release was denied by the judges. Due to the lawyers’ strike, Black Wind stood on his own in court.

Simultaneously, outside the courtroom, around a hundred supporters, comprising artists and human rights advocates, assembled to demand the filmmaker and rapper's release and the dismissal of charges against him.

In the meantime, a petition initiated by Black Wind’s support committee has gained momentum, attracting signatures from various artists, rappers, musicians, actors, directors, members of parliament, journalists, and civil society activists.

Signatories emphasize that the issue «does not concern Mehdi alone», highlighting that it «raises essential questions regarding the rule of law, particularly the presumption of innocence, fair trial guarantees, and the freedoms of artistic creation and expression».

Prior to the hearing, Black Wind's support committee urged gatherings in «Casablanca, Marseille, Geneva, Paris, Amsterdam, and Brittany».