Trial of Moroccan journalist arrested in connection with casablanca attacks probe adjourned
Morocco, Politics, 7/4/2003

The court of Rabat decided Wednesday to adjourn to July 9 the trial of director of "Al Ousboue" weekly, Mustapha Alaoui, and rebuffed the defense's request to grant him temporary release.

The hearing of Al Ousboue editor, who is sued for "dissimulating a document that could facilitate investigation on offences and for publishing wrong information likely to undermine public order," started on June 20 in the appeal court of Rabat. He is facing charges of "advocating acts that constitute a terrorist crime through publications destined for sale." His weekly had published a communiqu? at the beginning of June whereby a group, "Assaika," claims responsibility for some of last May 16 string of five terrorist attacks in Casablanca.

The appeal court declared it was incompetent to rule in this case and referred it to the first instance court of Rabat.

The public prosecutor of the Casablanca court of appeal had said in a release that by publishing the statement, which other publications abstained from circulating, Al Ousboue violated the law, especially the anti-terrorism law, enacted on May 29.

The general prosecutor has ordered an investigation on the circumstances in which the communiqu? reached "Al Ousboue" editor, on its sources and the accuracy of facts it contains, in order to lift any ambiguity or doubt as to the events and on the goals of those who perpetrated the attacks.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan court starts hearing of journalist arrested in connection with Casablanca attacks probe   (6/21/2003)
  King's human rights commitment goes beyond settling past cases, says chairman of HR council   (3/14/2003)
  European Union should reconsider policy towards Morocco, Dutch minister   (4/11/2002)

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