A song leads him behind bars... Shocking verdict on a Rai singer ignites controversy in Algeria.

In a shocking surprise for Rai music lovers in Algeria, a preliminary ruling was issued sentencing the famous singer "El Habbib Himoun" to four years in prison, following the controversy sparked by his latest song "Intihar Aadi" which garnered over one and a half million views on YouTube in just one month.

The song was just the spark that ignited a wide debate about the content of Rai songs, and whether strict restrictions should be imposed on their lyrics, especially after some songs touched on sensitive topics such as drugs, violence, and suicide.

The controversy was not limited to the song "Intihar Aadi", but became more complex with the spread of other clips by the same singer containing controversial lyrics.

In one song, there was a line: "Bring the dish (referring to heroin) and come," while another segment included the phrase "I am a gang on my own, the bouchia in the bag (weapon inside the bag)," which many considered incitement to violence and crime.

Reactions to Himoun's imprisonment varied, as some believed that freedom of expression should not be subject to strict censorship, while others argued that some Rai songs had crossed all red lines and were threatening social values.

In this context, the media personality and artist Yahya Tabish stated:

"The debate about vulgar songs is not new, but it has reached an unacceptable level... It is time to put an end to this misconduct."

Tabish pointed out that the spread of this type of songs is due to the absence of artistic control, praising the role of some countries, like Egypt, which have a strong union monitoring artistic content and banning songs described as "indecent."

As the debate continues, the question remains: Should strict censorship be imposed on songs to protect society, or should art remain free from restrictions?