Mohamed Mounir, widely known as Gnawi, was arrested at the start of the month and charged with “offending” public officials and public bodies.

His arrest came just days after he released another song criticising the Moroccan authorities and the king.

If convicted, Gnawi faces up to two years in prison and a fine of 5,000 Moroccan Dirhams (around £400).

Human rights group Amnesty has called the trial “an outrageous assault on free speech”.