Moroccan singer Bachir Abdou has publicly expressed his disappointment with the country's artists' unions and professional bodies for not offering support to his family following his son Saad Lamjarred's recent prison sentence in France. In a social media post, Abdou thanked Lamjarred's supporters for their messages of sympathy and prayers during this difficult time for the family. He emphasized that their support has helped ease the pain and sorrow they are experiencing.
Lamjarred was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a French appeals court in Creteil on September 26, found guilty of aggravated rape in a case involving a French woman, Laura Prioul. The case dates back to October 2016, when Prioul accused Lamjarred of raping her in a Paris hotel room after they met at a nightclub. Lamjarred had initially received a six-year prison sentence in February 2023, but the appeals court handed him a longer sentence and ordered his immediate detention.
Abdou's statement highlighted his frustration with the perceived absence of professional solidarity from the Moroccan artistic community following the court ruling against his son. He noted that the heads of unions and artistic bodies in Morocco have not reached out to his family, even to ask how they are doing as artists who belong to the Moroccan artistic family. This lack of support has been particularly notable given Lamjarred's prominence as one of the most widely known Moroccan singers in the Arab world.
The case has sparked a public debate in Morocco over Lamjarred's legal issues and the response of the country's artistic community to his conviction. Lamjarred has consistently denied the allegations in the case and his defense team has announced plans to challenge the ruling before France's Court of Cassation. The singer has faced several sexual assault allegations in recent years, including a separate case in Saint-Tropez in 2018, for which he was sentenced to five years in prison.
In addition to the French cases, Lamjarred has faced sexual assault allegations in Morocco in 2015 and in the United States in 2010. The Moroccan case was reportedly dismissed after the complainant withdrew from the proceedings, while the US case was reportedly later dropped following a financial settlement with the accuser. His legal cases have drawn widespread attention due to his popularity across the Arab world.
The reaction of Abdou to the lack of support from the Moroccan artistic community underscores the complexities of the situation and the challenges faced by public figures in navigating both their personal and professional lives. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the artistic community and the broader public in Morocco will respond to Lamjarred's conviction and the allegations against him.
Key points include: - Saad Lamjarred's father, Bachir Abdou, criticizes Moroccan artistic unions for lack of support. - Lamjarred was sentenced to 10 years in prison in France for aggravated rape. - The case has sparked a public debate in Morocco over Lamjarred's legal issues and the response of the country's artistic community.
