Saad Lamjarred

In February 2023, the Paris Assize Court found Lamjarred guilty of raping and assaulting Laura P. and sentenced him to six years in prison. He appealed. The appeal trial scheduled for June 2025 was postponed; in April 2026, Laura P. was acquitted in separate attempted extortion proceedings, while five other defendants were convicted. At the verification date, the appeal against the rape conviction remained pending.

Attribution

Directly implicated

On 15 May 2026, the Var Assize Court found Lamjarred guilty of raping a woman he had met near Saint-Tropez in 2018 and sentenced him to five years in prison. His lawyer announced an appeal on 21 May 2026.

Attribution

Directly implicated

The proceedings against Lamjarred have long polarised opinion in Morocco and the Arab world, between strong support from fans and artists, royal support in 2016, and feminist movements calling for a boycott. This polarisation has continued despite the French convictions and pending appeals.

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Documented

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Not applicable

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Directly implicated

After expressing his wish to return to major Moroccan stages, Lamjarred was the subject of a petition in 2024 calling for him to be barred from performing in Morocco until his proceedings had concluded. A new campaign targeted his scheduled appearance at Fan Park Village associated with AFCON 2025-2026, illustrating the continuing debate over his cultural reintegration.

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Not applicable

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Directly implicated

Feminist groups and #MeToo campaigns called for Lamjarred's performances to be cancelled because of repeated allegations of sexual violence. A concert in Cairo was notably cancelled following an online campaign, and the campaigns continued throughout the French proceedings.

State of the evidence

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Not applicable

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Directly implicated

A French-Moroccan woman accused Lamjarred of raping and assaulting her in Casablanca in 2015. He was formally placed under investigation in France in April 2017 for this aspect of the same judicial investigation as the Paris case. The complainant subsequently withdrew from the proceedings, citing family pressure, and the case was dismissed (non-lieu).

State of the evidence

Alleged

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Accused

In Brooklyn in 2010, Saad Lamjarred was charged following an allegation of rape and sexual assault, then left the United States after being released on bail. Charges were dropped in December 2016 when the complainant stated that she no longer wished to cooperate with the criminal proceedings, following a civil settlement reported by several media outlets.

State of the evidence

Alleged

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Accused

Following Lamjarred's arrest in Paris in the 2016 rape case, King Mohammed VI announced that his defence costs would be covered and recommended a lawyer, an unusual public intervention that prompted debate about patronage, celebrity and equal treatment.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated