Saad Lamjarred's Baghdad concert was cancelled after protesters attempted to storm the venue prior to the performance.
The Moroccan pop star was set to play at the leisure park Sinbad Land on Thursday, when hundreds of protesters gathered at the venue holding banners decrying the event, saying it clashed with religious ceremonies and citing the several rape allegations against the controversial singer.
After security guards managed to prevent some protesters from entering the venue, Sinbad Land officially cancelled the show.
In a statement posted on its Instagram channel on Saturday, Sinbad Land said the decision was made out of safety concerns.
"The reason for the sacrifice of all the money and efforts spent (on the show) was to protect everyone and prevent the shedding of blood of any Iraqi," read the statement.
"We are not sorry for our financial sacrifice, but we will demand the most severe penalties against those who incited and led this attack which recalls a tragic era of years past.
“We trust the Iraqi judiciary who has always been fair to everyone.”
While not addressing the protests, Lamjarred thanked concert organisers and pledged to return to Iraq.
“I would like to thank the entire Iraqi team for their efforts during the period of preparations for the concert and building the theatre in particular,” he said on Instagram.
“I will see you soon.”
Moroccan-Iraqi singer Shatha Hassoun also took to her social media channels in support of Lamjarred, describing the protests as not representative of Iraqi "generosity and reception".
"He is loved by all Iraqis, especially since everyone is aware of the nature of Lamjarred, which has always been characterised by kindness and that he is a real artist,” she said, alongside a picture with the singer.
This is not the first time a Lamjarred concert was cancelled because of his legal troubles.
In 2020, a planned show in Cairo was reportedly cancelled after a social media outcry during which the hashtag #CancelCairoShow trended regionally.
A similar social media campaign was launched last month in the lead-up to the Baghdad concert.
A fallen star
The cancellations underscore the controversy surrounding Lamjarred, who remains popular with more than 13 million followers on Instagram and a string of hits including 2015’s Lm3allem (The Boss), which racked up more than one billion views on YouTube.
That sky-rocketing momentum appears to have been permanently curtailed after the singer faced at least three accusations of rape.
In 2018, French prosecutors arrested Lamjarred after a woman filed a complaint, stating she was assaulted by the singer in a nightclub on the French Riviera.
Lamjarred was detained in police custody before being released pending further investigation.
At the time of the arrest, the singer was already on bail after being charged with the aggravated rape and assault of a French woman in a hotel in Paris, in October 2016.
According to Le Parisien, the Paris Court of Cassation annulled the case in 2020, citing the initial charge "does not, in form, meet the essential conditions for its legal existence".
Lamjarred was also accused of raping a woman in New York in 2010. He fled the US after posting bail and, despite being indicted on 21 counts, including rape and harassment, the case was dismissed after the accuser withdrew her complaint.
Lamjarred has denied all the charges against him.
He broke his silence regarding the 2010 case during a press conference in 2016, hours before his show at Morocco's Mawazine festival.
“This is an old story and the reason behind this is the fact I have been blessed with fame,” he said. “A lot of big stars have faced similar situations. These accusations that have been made towards me are false.”
Lamjarred's next concert is on Friday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, alongside Lebanese singer Elissa.
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
MATCH INFO
World Cup 2022 qualifier
UAE v Indonesia, Thursday, 8pm
Venue: Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
Sweet%20Tooth
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books
