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Moroccan rapper Jawad Asradi, better known by his stage name Pause Flow, is facing criminal prosecution in the city of Sefrou over the content of his music. Authorities have linked the case to lyrics and expressions in around ten songs released over the past eight years on his official YouTube channel, including tracks such as “Marionnette,” “Overdose,” “Doza,” and the more recent “Track.” In “Track,” Pause Flow reportedly targets fellow rapper Don Bigg, but prosecutors argue that several songs go further and insult public officials and an “organized body,” rather than limiting themselves to artistic critique.

Charges of “insulting public officials and an organized body”
The prosecution has invoked provisions of the Moroccan Penal Code that criminalize insulting public officials in the exercise of their duties and insulting an organized body, legal terms often used in Morocco to protect state institutions and their representatives from perceived attacks on their honor. According to sources close to the case, interrogations focused on the meaning of specific phrases in the ten songs, with authorities claiming that certain passages undermine the dignity, reputation, and authority of a public institution and its employees.

From police custody to pre-trial detention
Pause Flow was arrested in mid‑November 2025, reportedly on a Tuesday, before being presented to the competent prosecutor the following day. The prosecutor decided he should be prosecuted under arrest, and the same day he was brought before the Court of First Instance in Sefrou, which ordered his detention and adjourned the case to 27 November for trial. His lawyers requested provisional release, arguing among other things that he is undergoing treatment for addiction, but the court rejected the request and kept him in custody pending the substantive hearing.

Bail decision and continued custody
In a later procedural development, the Sefrou court ruled that Pause Flow could be released pending trial in exchange for bail set at 100,000 Moroccan dirhams, while maintaining the same charges of insulting an organized body and public officials under articles 263 and 265 of the Penal Code. Reports indicate that as long as this bail is not effectively paid, the rapper remains detained in Sefrou’s local prison, making his actual release conditional rather than automatic despite the court’s decision. This legal limbo underscores the precarious situation of artists whose freedom depends on their ability, or that of supporters, to mobilize significant financial guarantees.

Social media debate and support from peers
The arrest has sparked intense reactions on Moroccan social media, especially among young users who see the case as part of a broader pattern of restrictions on speech in the digital sphere. Commenters and fans have questioned why critical lyrics are being criminalized, with many explicitly framing the issue as a test of freedom of expression and artistic freedom in Morocco’s rapidly growing rap scene. Prominent rapper Don Bigg – himself mentioned in Pause Flow’s song “Track” – has publicly expressed support for Pause Flow and another artist, Raid, both facing legal scrutiny over lyrics, signalling concern within the professional community about the use of penal law against musicians.

Artistic freedom concerns and wider pattern
For human rights and artistic freedom observers, the Pause Flow case fits into a longer trajectory in Morocco where rappers and outspoken performers have been prosecuted for allegedly insulting state institutions or security forces. Earlier high‑profile cases, including those of rappers such as Gnawi and El Haqed, have been cited by rights groups as examples of how insult and defamation provisions are used to deter political and social criticism in music. The current charges against Pause Flow—grounded directly in the content of his songs—again raise questions about whether Morocco’s legal framework and its application are compatible with international standards on freedom of expression and the protection of artistic work, especially when the work targets powerful institutions and officials.

The prosecution of Moroccan rapper Pause Flow over his song lyrics has reopened a crucial debate on artistic freedom and freedom of expression. Detained and conditionally released on high bail, his case reflects the growing legal pressures faced by critical voices in the cultural space. As artists and human rights advocates react, the broader implications for creativity and digital expression remain in sharp focus.

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