Court Sentences to 15 years Man for Terrorism

The court of appeal of Rabat sentenced on Friday evening to 15 years in jail Britel Abu Al-Kacem, alias Abderrahmane or Bouchaib, under provisions of the anti-terrorism law enacted in the morrow of last May 16 terrorist attacks in Casablanca.

The defendant was found guilty of criminal association aiming to plot and carry out terrorist attacks, endangering public orders, holding unlicensed meetings and activism within an unauthorized association.

Abu Al-Kacem, 36, who lived in the Italian city of Bergame and is married to an Italian woman who converted to Islam, denied he belongs to the underground "Salafia Jihadia" group.

The court also handed down prison sentences ranging between 10 and 20 years against 6 individuals, prosecuted under the anti-terrorism law. A member of the group, known as the "Meknes Group" got 20 years, another co-defendant 15 years and four other members of the group were sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The Meknes group were sued for criminal association to plot and carry out terrorist acts, possession of weapons, robbery, homicide attempt, holding unlicensed meetings and activism within an unauthorized association.