The anti-terrorist court in Morocco has handed out sentences ranging from 2-20 years imprisonment to 43 Islamic activists, members of a cell dismantled in 2007.
The Court of Salé, near Rabat, in charge of terrorism cases, has imposed 20 years’ imprisonment on Abdelkrim Makhloufi presented as the brain behind the group, including preparations for terrorist acts on Moroccan territory.
They are also prosecuted for preparation of a project aimed at disrupting public order.
Twelve other defendants were sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and 12 years for a respondent. Other sentences ranged from 3 years against six defendants to 2 years for eight others.
The prosecution accused the Moroccan cell of belonging to “Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb” and the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) in Algeria. ”
Since the terrorist attacks in Casablanca on 16 May 2003 which claimed 45 deaths, including 12 suicide bombers, a thousand Islamists had been jailed.
In 2008, 100 sentences were passed in Morocco against accused Islamists ranging from one to 30 years imprisonment.
The Moroccan anti-terrorism court has also cleared some defendants.
Source African Press Agency
