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November 25, 2005
Morocco: 17 Islamists Charged
We reported earlier that 17 Islamists had been detained in Morocco. Yesterday (Thursday 24) they were all present in an examining court in Sale, near Rabat, to be charged, states Angola Press. The men were charged with "criminal conspiracy for terrorist attacks and breach of the peace".
They are further charged with belonging to a "terrorist organisation linked to small groups operating on the Iraqi border, and having close connections with some leaders of the Al-Qaeda network".
Other charges are for "belonging to a criminal group, non- denunciation of terrorism and breach of national security. The charges also include giving support to a criminal group (Al Qaeda) through the transfer and distribution of funds to Moroccan citizens working against the country`s interests, forgery and use of a forged passport."
In August 2004, the US government gave back to Morocco five of its nationals who had been captured in Afghanistan and detained as "enemy combatants" in Guantanamo detention facility. Two of these, Brahim Benchekroun and Mohamed Mazouz, were among the 17 charged yesterday.
The 17, who were arrested at locations in Rabat and Casablanca, are alleged to be part of an "emergent terror cell" which aimed to have a "Bloody December" attacking tourist sites and public institutions in the kingdom.
The Lebanon Daily Star states that their prosecutor is Hussein Houdaya, one of the kingdom's leading anti-terrorist attorneys.
The detention period prior to Thursday's court appearance had been extended for 96 hours twice. Defense lawyer, Abdel-Fattah Zahrach, said the aim was to help police "complete their inquries."The ringleaders and others had originally been arrested at the start of November with the ex-Guantanamo suspects detained on November 15, but details of their detention were not publicly disclosed until 20 November.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 25, 2005 2:39 PM
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