Twenty members of underground group get 3 to 10 years jail sentences

The court of appeal of Rabat handed down early Saturday 3 to 10 years jail sentences against twenty members of an underground association. The defendants, known as the "Sidi Bennour" group, includes four men who were sentenced to 10 years while 15 other got eight years. Charges held against 19 members of the group include "criminal association to plot and carry out terrorist acts, advocacy of terrorist acts and inciting to committing such acts, holding non-authorized public meetings, activism within a unauthorized association, attempting to undermine the state's internal security.

A group member was condemned to three years as the court cleared him of some charges and retained counts of "advocating terrorist acts, activism within an unauthorized association and debasing a political party."

The "Sidi Bennour" group was sued part of the anti-terrorist law that entered into force last May 28.