Iraq wants Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred's concert cancelled over sexual assault claims

A social media campaign in Iraq is calling on Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred to cancel his concert in Baghdad over allegations of sexual assault.

The Arabic hashtag "Saad Lamjarred’s concert is rejected" went viral on social media platforms after entertainment company Sindbad Land announced the singer's concert in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Lamjarred has faced 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.

He has since played concerts in countries such as Saudi Arabia.

Iraqis asked how a man with cases of rape and harassment opened against him can be allowed to perform in Baghdad.

We the women of Iraq, who are struggling against all aspects of hatred and racism against women, to hold a party for the rapist Saad Al-Mujarred in Baghdad,and we consider allowing him to enter our land as an insult to all victims of harassment and rape!🇮🇶#حفل_سعد_المجرد_مرفوض

— ماسة الرَمادي (@mass7__) May 21, 2022

The campaign against Lamjarred has attracted widespread support in Iraq.

اتفاءل من اشوف اعداد حتى لو كانت قليلة من الولد متفاعلين مع قضية منع احياء حفل سعد المجرد (الفنان المُغتصب والمُفلت من العقاب) في العراق.

نشر الوعي عن هذا الموضوع ما يقتصر عالبنات فقط. انتوا ايضاً من واجبكم الدفاع عن قضايا تخصكم بگد ما تخص المرأة و اكثر.#حفل_سعد_المجرد_مرفوض

— Sally Bachori - سالي بچوري (@sabachor) May 22, 2022

Another Twitter user called on Iraqi authorities to follow Egypt's move, which in 2020 cancelled Lamjarred's concert after a similar campaign to cancel the star's concert.

احتراماً لشعب المصري في عام 2020 تم الغاء حفل الفنان سعد المجرد من قبل اللجنة المنظمة للحفل بعد رفض الجماهير المصرية له لأنه متهم بقضايا عنف واغتصاب.

سعد المجرد قريباً في بغداد-السندباد لاند
ندعوا اللجنة المنظمة لألغاء حفل المغتصب ونقف مع الضعيف اينما وجد#حفل_سعد_المجرد_مرفوض

— ثورة تشرين العظيمة | حيدر (@weekend195) May 21, 2022

The company organising the event has not commented on the matter.

A source at the company, who wished to remain anonymous, told The New Arab’s sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that tickets were still being sold despite the online campaign and there are no plans to cancel the concert.

The source said the campaign was "not innocent", claiming that the company was deliberately being attacked.

The 37-year-old singer rose to fame after his 2015 hit 'Lmaallem', which has had more than a billion clicks on YouTube, making it the most-viewed video by an Arab artist on the platform.

A recent duo between Lamjarred and Lebanese popstar Elissa also caused controversy due to the serious allegations against Lamjarred.

The video has been viewed nearly 70 million times in just two weeks.