Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred faces new rape trial in France

08:45

Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred appeared before a criminal court in southern France on Monday in connection with a rape case dating back to 2018 near Saint-Tropez.

The trial is taking place in the city of Draguignan, where the artist is being tried over allegations made by a former bar employee who accused him of sexual assault following an encounter in a nightclub in the French Riviera region.

Lamjarred, who denies the accusations, appeared in court as a free defendant. According to the case file, the complainant alleged that the incident occurred after she accompanied the singer to his hotel. The defense maintains that the relationship was consensual.

The proceedings are expected to continue throughout the week, with a verdict anticipated in the coming days. Lawyers representing the complainant requested that hearings be held behind closed doors, a common procedure in sexual assault cases under French law.

The case has attracted widespread media attention due to the singer’s popularity in the Arab world and the legal controversies that have surrounded him in recent years.

French courts have previously handled other legal cases involving Lamjarred, including a separate conviction in Paris related to assault and rape allegations. The singer has consistently denied wrongdoing in those matters as well.

The ongoing trial highlights broader debates surrounding sexual violence cases, judicial procedures, and the influence of celebrity status in high-profile legal proceedings.

Observers note that such cases often generate strong public reactions both in France and internationally, particularly when they involve well-known public figures from the entertainment industry.