Two trials of underground groups postponed

Trials of two groups of persons suspected of being members of extremist groups were postponed to July 28 by the appeal courts of Fez and Casablanca

The appeal court of Fez adjourned hearing in the case of 28 alleged members of "Salafia Jihadia" to allow the defense prepare its arguments after it rebuffed a request to dissociate the case of some of the accused from the principal one. The 28 persons, aged between 22 and 52 years and who were recently arrested following complaints from several people, are accused of criminal association, kidnapping, sequestration, theft, office usurpation, assault and battery that caused permanent disability, distribution of documents inciting to violence and unauthorized raising of funds.

Meanwhile, the appeal court of Casablanca adjourned the trial of 24 individuals, belonging to two different groups, who are allegedly involved in May 16 terrorist attacks in Casablanca to allow them to be represented by court-appointed lawyers. Members of the first group led by the so-called Said Nakiri, are aged between 19 and 47 while members of the other group, whose age ranges between 21 and 36, are led by Abdelhak Himdi.

Charges held against them include criminal association, undermining the state's internal security, sabotage and killing, attempts to sabotage public building, premeditated murder and complicity in violent acts that caused a permanent disability.