Rabat court delivers verdicts in several terrorism cases
Morocco, Local, 9/29/2003

The criminal chamber of the Rabat appeal court delivered Saturday morning verdicts in several cases involving people sued for terrorism charges, under the anti-terrorism law.

Eight members of the underground organization "Moroccan Islamic Fighting Group" were handed down sentences ranging between 6 and 20 years in jail.

The prosecutor had required a minimum sentence of 20 years against the group accused of receiving logistic support from Al Qaida to attack Jewish and US interests in Morocco. The attorneys, while arguing the absence of evidence of their clients' involvement in terrorist attacks inside Morocco, have confessed they went to Afghanistan to "fight the apostates" but denied charges of raising funds for terrorist attacks.

In the case of the group dubbed the Larache cell, sued for plotting to destabilize the country, assault historical monuments and visitors of a Jewish cemetery in the northern city, the court delivered prison sentences ranging between 8 and 15 years against the seven individuals.

The defense had rejected the charges as unfounded saying the defendants' acknowledgments were made under constraints.

In the same tribunal, members of the "Berkane group" were delivered sentences ranging between 2 and 12 years in jail except for one individual who was acquitted.

Counts held against the group include belonging to the Salafia Jihadia underground extremist group and for preparing terrorist acts.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco to host conference on south-south cooperation   (9/27/2003)
  One Salafia Jihadia member get life imprisonment   (9/27/2003)
  Two men get death penalty in terrorism trial   (9/27/2003)

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