A Moroccan court will hand down judgment Thursday in the assault trial of a young Moroccan rapper known for his anti-monarchy lyrics in a case his lawyers claimed was political.

The trial of Moad Al-Haqed, 24, opened on Tuesday evening and continued overnight. He is a member of Morocco's February 20 protest movement and stands accused of assaulting a counter-protester.

"This is not an ordinary trial. It is a political trial," a lawyer for the rapper, whose real name is Moad Belrhouat, told the court.

An online petition to free the musician, whose songs are popular on social networking sites, has attracted numerous signatures.

Present at court were several members of the February 20 movement, an eclectic mix of cyber-activists, radical Islamists, left-wing activists, students and independents seeking deep political reforms.

Police sought to separate the women from the men in the courtroom, but the activists resisted.

Judgment is expected around 1300 GMT Thursday.