Egypt, Lebanon campaigns call for Saad Lamjarred gigs to be cancelled over rape allegations

Activists in Egypt and Lebanon have organised online campaigns calling for planned concerts to be cancelled for a singer previously accused of rape and sexual assault, charges he denies.

Saad Lamjarred, a Moroccan singer who rose to fame since his 2015 hit 'Lmaallem', which has over 1 billion views on YouTube - is scheduled to play in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh resort town on 29 December.

He also has two concerts planned in Beirut on 30 and 31 December.

Activists say it is unacceptable for an individual who was on trial for sexual assault in more than one country to perform concerts.

Other Twitter users shared previous news articles about the Moroccan singer.

#إفضح_متحرش#سعد_لمجرد#إغتصاب @HaifaWehbe pic.twitter.com/MfCwu9dMdI

— Darine Dandachly دارين دندشلي (@darinedandachly) December 19, 2022

Some pages asked people to give the venues hosting the singer bad reviews online to pressure them to cancel his gigs.

Lamjarred has faced three claims of rape and sexual assault in the US and France since 2010, charges he denies.

He returned to Morocco in 2019 from France, where he was reportedly banned from leaving the country.

The first case was dropped after a settlement, the second case was cancelled after the accuser retracted her statement, while a third is ongoing.

He has faced similar campaigns before. In June, protesters in the Iraqi capital stormed his concert and forced the show to be cancelled.

Singers who have collaborated with Lamjarred have also been criticised, such as Lebanese popstar Elissa who released a duet with him earlier this year.