Magistrate ends questioning of five former Guantanamo detainees
Morocco, Local, 9/17/2004

The investigating magistrate of the Rabat Court of Appeal ended, Wednesday, the "in-depth interrogation" of the five Moroccans, who were held previously on the American base of Guantanamo and returned to Moroccan authorities last August 1st, legal sources said.

The five defendants Abdallah Tabarek, Mohamed Ouzar, Ibrahim Benchekroun, Redouane Chakouri and Mohamed Mazouz, are sued for "setting up a criminal gang to prepare and commit terrorist acts, carrying out a collective plan aiming to undermine public order, non-denunciation, forgery, and belonging to a banned and unauthorized organization."

Lawyers of the five defendants had requested on September 7, in statements to the press, the release of their clients, saying the charges against them are "unfounded."

Lawyers of Mohamed Hilal and Abdelfettah Zahrach said the "Moroccan justice is incompetent to try this case" because acts blamed on their clients were committed "outside the national territory."

Previous Stories:
  Defense lawyers ask for the release of former Moroccan detainees in Guantanamo   (9/8/2004)
  Morocco to start on Sep.7 in-depth investigation with five Moroccans formerly held in Guantanamo   (8/13/2004)
  U.S. hands over five Moroccan Guantanamo prisoners   (8/3/2004)

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