Kabli, 23, who performs under the stage name L7assal and is also a member of the banned but tolerated Islamist movement Al Adl Wal Ihssane, had been sentenced in March after being arrested on charges of insulting a public body and undermining respect for constitutional institutions.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of four years in prison under Moroccan law.Speaking after the appeal hearing in the northeastern city of Taza, lawyer Mohammed Taifi said the ruling was unjustified and argued that his client had only exercised his right to express opinions without intending to offend state institutions or public officials.

“It’s an error of judgment. There was no intention to offend anyone, nor were there any explicitly offensive remarks,” Taifi said.He said Kabli had told the court that his music and social media posts were aimed at expressing views on corruption and foreign policy issues, including Rabat’s decision to normalize relations with Israel, rather than insulting individuals or constitutional bodies.

The case has drawn criticism from rights advocates, with the Moroccan Association for Human Rights calling for Kabli’s release and for all charges to be dropped.The group described the prosecution as a political attempt to restrict freedom of expression and silence dissenting voices.

Morocco normalized ties with Israel in 2020 under a U.S.-backed agreement that generated domestic debate, particularly among Islamist groups and pro-Palestinian activists.

Al Adl Wal Ihssane, though officially banned, remains one of Morocco’s most influential opposition Islamist movements and frequently criticizes government policy.

Kim, the wife of jailed former president Yoon Suk Yeol, had initially been sentenced in January to 20 months in prison for bribery but was cleared of allegations that she helped manipulate stock prices and of several other charges.Both Kim and prosecutors appealed the ruling, with Kim seeking to clear her name and prosecutors arguing that the sentence was too lenient and that the acquittals were unjustified.

The Seoul High Court ruled on Tuesday that Kim had participated in manipulating the share price of Deutsch Motors, a South Korean car dealer, describing the activity as a “collusive trading act constituting market manipulation.”“The defendant appears to have participated in such conduct,” the court said in its televised judgment.

The court sentenced Kim to four years in prison and imposed a fine of 50 million won ($34,000), significantly increasing the punishment from the original trial.It also upheld her bribery conviction, ruling that her conduct had undermined confidence in government integrity.

“As a result of her accepting bribes, public trust in the transparency of state affairs and the fair execution of national policy was undermined,” the court said.Judges added that Kim had failed to accept responsibility and had instead “consistently resorted to excuses,” though they noted her lack of any prior criminal record in determining the sentence.

Kim, 53, appeared in court wearing a white face mask and kept her head lowered as the verdict was delivered.Her legal team told AFP they would appeal the decision to South Korea’s Supreme Court.Kim remained one of the most controversial public figures during Yoon’s presidency, with repeated scandals often overshadowing his administration.

In 2023, secretly recorded footage appeared to show her accepting a luxury Dior handbag, intensifying political backlash and contributing to falling approval ratings for Yoon’s government.The controversy was widely seen as a factor in the ruling party’s defeat in the April 2024 parliamentary elections, where it failed to regain a legislative majority.

Yoon later vetoed three opposition-backed bills seeking investigations into allegations surrounding Kim, including the Dior handbag case, with his final veto issued in November 2024.One week later, he declared martial law, a move that failed and triggered his impeachment, removal from office and eventual sentencing in February this year to life imprisonment for insurrection.

Yoon has appealed that conviction, saying his martial law declaration was made “solely for the sake of the nation.”Another appeal verdict related to his separate five-year sentence for obstruction of justice and other crimes connected to the declaration is expected on Wednesday.

Kim’s bribery case also implicated Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church, who is accused of providing luxury gifts including two Chanel handbags and a Graff necklace.The court ruled Tuesday that all three items constituted bribes.

In the lower court’s January ruling, one of the handbags had not been classified as a bribe because it was allegedly gifted before Yoon’s presidential inauguration.

Han, 83, is standing trial on bribery and other charges and is currently receiving medical treatment after being temporarily released from custody.