Court of appeal carries on hearing of two Salafia Jihadia alleged theoreticians

The court of appeal of Casablanca on Wednesday proceeded to the hearing of two defendants considered among the theoreticians of the banned Islamic movement "Salafia Jihadia" and who are allegedly involved in May 16 suicide bombings in Casablanca that left 44 dead.

The defendants are Omar Haddouchi, Abdlkrim Chadli. Meanwhile, the hearing of Mohamed Fizazi, another alleged theoretician of the underground group, was postponed to Friday.

The two accused denied charges held against them, insisting that they are Moslems belonging to the moderate Malekite doctrine and that they condemned, like all Moroccans, the bloody events of last May.

"I do not have any connection with the terrorist attacks in Casablanca. I am a man of faith. How do you expect me to perpetrate such acts," said Omar Haddouchi.

On his direct links with Salafia Jihadia, the accused denied having known or heard about this organization, saying he believes that this name was invented by the press. He further explained to the court that attacking centers of the Jewish community is banned by Islam and that the implementation of the moral principal "advise for the good and advise against the evil" is part of the "Sutlan's prerogatives and not that of preachers like us."

"I have never called for changing society through violence," he said.

Similarly, Abdelkrim Chadli categorically denied that he belongs to Salafia Jihadia but recognized the existence of "Assirat Al Mostakim" which is based on the call for Jihad and inclined to accuse all people who do not follow its ideology of impiety.

The accused are mainly sued for conspiracy, undermining the state's interior security, sabotage and killing, premeditated sabotage attempts and complicity in acts of violence that led to a permanent disability.