Morocco student tried for posting a rap song’s lyrics on Facebook granted provisional release

Moroccan teenager Ayoub Mahfoud, sentenced in December to three years in prison and fined 5 000 dirhams for a Facebook post about a rap song, was granted provisional release, Thursday, pending trial, AMDH member Khadija Riadi told Yabiladi.

The student still has to stand trial at the Meknes Appeal court after his appeal hearing has been scheduled for January 20. During his trial, the Moroccan Association will support the young man for Human Rights (AMDH), hiring its lawyers to defend him.

Arrested in December, the 18-year-old student was accused of «contempt of the King» and «to public officials». He is charged based on Articles 179, 263 and 265 from the Moroccan penal code.

Mahfoud was arrested after he posted to his Facebook account the lyrics of rap song «3ach Cha3b» (Live long the people) by Weld L’Griya, Lz3er and Gnaoui. The latter was also sentenced to one year in prison in November 2019.