Saad Lamjarred family rejects appeal verdict and maintains singer’s innocence

Saturday 26 September 2026 - 21:00

The family of Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred has publicly rejected the latest ruling by French justice, reiterating its belief that the artist is innocent after an appeal court in Créteil handed him a heavier prison sentence.

Bachir Abdou, Lamjarred’s father and a well-known Moroccan performer, reacted to the verdict in an emotional message published on Facebook. He said the family remained firmly convinced of his son’s innocence and described the ruling as unjust.

Family voices strong opposition to verdict

In his statement, Bachir Abdou defended the work carried out by his son’s legal team and said the family believed that the defence had presented substantial evidence during the proceedings.

The singer’s father repeated his assertion of innocence while expressing his deep disappointment with the outcome. His reaction reflects the position maintained by Lamjarred’s family throughout the long-running French legal proceedings.

Bachir Abdou also referred to the emotional impact of the case on the singer’s relatives and close circle. He specifically mentioned the difficulties experienced by Lamjarred’s mother, Nezha Regragui, as well as the singer’s wife and professional associates.

Appeal court increases prison sentence

The family’s reaction came after the Assize Court of Appeal in Créteil delivered its decision in the case involving events dating back to 2016.

According to the information provided, Lamjarred was found guilty of raping a young French woman and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The sentence represents an increase from the six-year prison term handed down at first instance in 2023.

The appeal proceedings therefore resulted in a significantly heavier sentence for the Moroccan singer, bringing renewed attention to a case that has followed his career for years.

A case that continues to divide the singer’s supporters

The verdict has generated a strong reaction within Lamjarred’s family, which continues to contest the judicial findings and defend the singer publicly.

Bachir Abdou’s statement focused on the family’s conviction rather than accepting the court’s conclusions, underlining the deep personal consequences of the proceedings for those closest to the artist.

The case has also remained closely followed in Morocco because of Lamjarred’s prominent position in the country’s music industry and his large audience across the Arab world.

Legal proceedings mark another chapter in long-running case

The latest ruling represents another major stage in the judicial proceedings stemming from the 2016 allegations in France. The first-instance conviction in 2023 had already resulted in a six-year prison sentence.

Following the appeal judgment, Lamjarred’s family has once again made clear that it intends to maintain its position regarding the case. Bachir Abdou’s public reaction places the family’s continued defence of the singer at the centre of the immediate response to the verdict.

The case now enters a new phase following the appeal court’s decision, while the family continues to publicly maintain that Saad Lamjarred is innocent.