K’naan charged with sexual assault from a 2010 incident

K’naan Warsame at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 6 in Toronto, Canada. – Source: Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu/Getty Images

Canadian rapper K’naan was charged with sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident that occurred in July 2010, Canadian Press reports.

The charges were filed in Quebec City court on September 26. According to the arrest warrant, the assault occurred on July 16–17, 2010. Both dates coincide with the artists’ appearance at the Festival d’été de Québec in Québec City.

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According to CBCa complaint against K’naan was first filed with Montreal police in May 2022. The case ended in Quebec City after police discovered that the assault allegedly occurred in a hotel room located within that jurisdiction.

The identity of the victim, who was 29 years old at the time of the alleged attack, is being kept secret. K’naan, born Keinan Abdi Warsame, would have been 33 years old at the time.

The Brooklyn rapper was not present in court when the case was presented. Radio-Canada informs that K’naan’s legal representative has submitted a request for the hearing to be held in English. The deadline for considering the case is set for April 2025.

Earlier this week, K’naan received the SOCAN Cultural Impact Award at the 34th Canadian Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers Awards. He was honored for his 2009 hit single “Wavin’ Flag”, which reached number two on the charts Billboard“Canadian Hot 100”, and in 2010 it was named the world anthem of the 2020 FIFA World Cup.

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