One Salafia Jihadia member get life imprisonment

The court of appeal of Casablanca handed down on Thursday night sentences ranging between 4 years and life imprisonment against a group of members of the underground radical group "Salafia Jihadia," sued part of the probe on the terrorist attacks of Casablanca that killed 45 people last May 16.

While Abdelkbir Goumra was handed down a life sentence, Mohamed Hassan Kettani and Mohamed Abdelouahab Rafiki, considered as the masterminds of the extremism trend and the theoreticians of "Salafia Jihadia," were sentenced respectively to twenty and thirty years in jail. A defendant, Hicham Saber, was acquitted.

The public prosecutor argued that even though Hassan Kettani and Mohamed Abdelouahab Rafiki did not carry out direct actions, they were the masterminds of the suicide bombers who perpetrated the terrorist attacks last May.

Two other co-defendants were sentenced to thirty years, one to ten years, and one man to four years.

A lawyer, Abdellah El Aamari, who was sued for helping a man sought by police, escape attempt, and giving information to a defendant prosecuted in another case of an underground group, was sentenced to three years.

The court also condemned three members of an underground radical group called "Assirat Al Moustakim" to ten years, twelve to eight years, two to seven years, one to five years and two to three months.

They were sued for criminal association, undermining the state's internal security, sabotage and killing and complicity in acts of violence that led to permanent disability.

The court acquitted, Abdelmajid El Guarch, who was sued part of the case of the dormant cell of Al-Qaida.