Amnesty urges Morocco to release rapper Mehdi Black Wind

Amnesty International on Thursday called on Moroccan authorities to release Moroccan rapper and filmmaker Mehdi El Youbi, known as Mehdi Black Wind, and to drop all charges against him stemming from his exercise of the right to freedom of expression.

The international human rights organization said Black Wind, who is being held in pretrial detention, «is facing prosecution for critical expression».

On Wednesday, the flagrante delicto misdemeanor chamber at the Ain Sebaa Criminal Court of First Instance in Casablanca rejected Black Wind's request to be tried while provisionally released and postponed consideration of the case until a hearing scheduled for July 31.

Security authorities barred El Youbi on July 10 from leaving Rabat-Salé Airport for France, handing him a summons to appear before the National Brigade of Judicial Police. On July 13, he was placed in police custody and prosecuted on charges of «insulting a constitutional body.»