Terrorism: court starts hearing of extremist theoreticians

The criminal chamber at the court of appeal of Casablanca started Wednesday the hearing of four people, considered as the "theoreticians" of extremist groups in Morocco, allegedly involved in the terrorist attacks perpetrated last May 16 in Casablanca.

The four "theoreticians" are Mohamed Fizazi, Omar Haddouchi, Miloudi Zakaria and Abdelkerim Chadili.

Miloudi Zakaria denied being a leader of the "Assirat Al-Moustakim" (the Right Path), and rejected accusations that he moderated lectures on Jihad and apostasy and encouraged terrorist attacks against foreign interests in Morocco.

He said that he was preacher in a Casablanca mosque and admitted that he refused to abide by legal provisions in force for contracting his own marriage, affirming, in this connection, that the positive laws are far from the Sharia (Islamic law).

To a question on manuscripts seized with him, Zakaria said these were Friday sermons and a draft book on political jurisprudence.

Regarding the Casablanca terrorist attacks, Zakaria said he is against anything likely to harm Islam and Muslims.

The Casablanca court decided the same day to postpone the scrutiny of cases of several other persons sued for alleged involvement in the Casablanca bombings that killed 44 people including twelve suicide bombers.