Moroccan rapper El Mahdi Lyoubi has been temporarily released from custody after a court granted him bail.
Known by his stage name Mehdi Black Wind and for his politically charged lyrics,Lyoubi was arrested at Rabat airport last month,as he waited to board a flight to his home in Marseille.
He’s charged with insulting a constitutional institution and faces up to two years in prison. A new trial date has been set for October 2.
Lyoubi rose to prominence in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring and was a vocal supporter of Morocco’s 2025 Gen Z protests.
After his arrest,international NGO Human Rights Watch joined the calls for his release,saying “criticism of government officials is protected under international law."
United News - unews.co.za