The prison sentence issued on July 1, 2014, for the outspoken rapper known as "Al-Haqed" raises concerns that Moroccan courts have once again convicted him because of his political message. A Casablanca Court of First Instance sentenced Al-Haqed ("the sullen one"), whose real name is Mouad Belghouat, to four months in prison and ordered him to pay a fine and damages for allegedly being inebriated in public and assaulting and insulting policemen.
The trial judge refused all of the defense's motions to summon witnesses, the alleged victims, or the doctor who signed the medical report upon examining them. This refusal was among the reasons the defense team walked out of the trial at the June 24 session, protesting what they considered violations of the defendant's right to a fair trial.
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