RABAT - A Moroccan rapper who has become one of the monarchy's boldest critics should be freed on Thursday, an activist said, after spending four months in jail on assault charges denounced by his lawyers as a ploy to muzzle the popular singer.
A court in Casablanca found Mouad Belrhouat, better known as El-Haqed ("The Sullen One"), guilty of the charges. It sentenced him to four months and three days in jail and fined him 500 dirhams ($57), sources in the court said.The jail sentence corresponds to the period El-Haqed has spent behind bars since his arrest in September.
"It's a sweet and sour victory for us," said activist Maria Karim. "We expect him to be released out of prison within the day."
