Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki: Moroccan government to propose law for clear definition of terrorism

Moroccan human rights minister, Mohamed Aujjar, said the government will propose a draft law that will clearly define terrorism.

The minister told "Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki" daily the government sees to it to have a precise definition of terrorism so as to ensure that the fight against terrorism does not serve as a pretext for new human rights abuses.

The government is also keen to equate the amendments to the penal law with the human rights culture in order to give to the Kingdom a legal arsenal to fight terrorism. He stressed that the rule of law implies the fight against all forms of deviation through legal texts.

He also warned against "the western propaganda meant to associate Islam and Muslims with terrorism, insisting that Islam has no relation with terrorism.

"We are endeavoring, within the UN human rights commission and other international encounters, to lift the amalgam kindled by several sides that are hostile to Arabs and Muslims," the minister went on.

Aujjar also renewed denial of news reported by the media and human rights associations that there were cases of (political) kidnappings in Morocco. The government has conducted investigations that showed that the reported names are actually part of a list of persons being sought upon a decision made by the general prosecutor of the Casablanca court of appeal as part of investigations on persons suspected of involvement in terrorist acts.