There are no political prisoners in Morocco, Minister
"There are no longer any political detainees in Moroccan prisons," after "the release of a group of persons proposed by the Human Rights Consultative Council," said Moroccan minister in charge of relations with the parliament, Mohamed Bouzoubaa.
In an interview with London-based daily al-Hayat, the official said the persons who are still detained are involved in murders.
Regarding the issue of leftist opponent Abraham Serfaty, the minister blamed his position on the Sahara issue as an obstruction to his return to Morocco, especially since the former prisoner is himself erecting this obstacle, casting doubts on whether he sincerely wants to return to Morocco.
Abraham Serfaty was released from prison in November 1991 and expelled to France. The interior minister said the leftist opponent was not Moroccan but Brazilian. Serfaty appealed the decision at the supreme court which ruled that it is not competent to decide on the matter.
To a question on Abdessalam Yassine, leader of an unauthorized Islamist association, the minister explained that his case differs from Serfaty's as Yassine, who is under house arrest, has opted for a political settlement instead of resorting to the competent courts. He went on that the settlement of this issue is only a question of time, as the government expressed readiness to end the situation.
The case will be settled shortly, he insisted, expressing the wish that Sheikh Yassine would act "as a political leader wishing to create a political party or group in the respect of the code of civil liberties and the constitution."
Touching on the Islamic extremist student movement in Moroccan universities, Bouzoubaa said the government strongly adheres to promoting democracy in student actions and wants to give all political tendencies a chance.
He added that Morocco's National Students Union "UNEM" belongs to all students and has always represented a good school for political leaders, insisting that "no Islamist group has the right to dominate the movement or exclude other components."