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Dounia Batma Appeals for Royal Clemency Following Failed Appeal in "Hamza Mon BB" Case

Monday 08 January 2024 - 09:12

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Moroccan pop singer Dounia Batma has turned to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, seeking clemency to pardon her one-year prison sentence after the country's highest court dismissed her appeal last month.

In an emotional video statement, Batma asserted that she has fallen victim to a conspiracy designed to sabotage her music career, alleging that her ex-husband, Mohamed Turk, divulged damaging information about her for financial gain. Additionally, she claimed her car was recently targeted in an assassination attempt.

Initially handed an eight-month prison sentence in July 2020, the court later extended her sentence to one year in its 2021 ruling concerning her involvement in the infamous "Hamza Mon BB" case that has garnered international attention since 2018.

Batma and her sister Ibtissam have faced numerous charges in recent years for allegedly illicitly accessing private data and sharing individuals' personal conversations, pictures, and other content without consent. Prosecutors argue that the sisters operated social media accounts that violated privacy laws.

The case revolves around an Instagram and Snapchat account named "Hamza Mon BB," which was utilized to publicly disseminate explicit photos, videos, and personal information about victims without their permission.

Despite the mounting legal challenges, Batma maintains her innocence, contending that she is the target of a conspiracy aimed at derailing her music career. Exhausting her legal avenues, her appeal for a royal pardon from His Majesty King Mohammed VI represents her final recourse to avoid incarceration.