At a time when Morocco was being quietly congratulated for not having used the death penalty for over a decade, the appeal court in Salé confirmed a death penalty against two radical Islamists, Mohcine Bouârfa and Taoufik Hanouichi, who are involved in the killing of four security agents and a Jewish Moroccan. Insiders say that it is unlikely the men will actually be executed as Morocco has moved away from implementing it in practice.
The two fundamentalists are part of a radical group dubbed "Meknes cell."
The court also confirmed life sentence against four members of the same group, namely Taha El Belghiti, Zine El Abidine Meskini, Mohamed Azzouzi and Tarik Yahyaoui.
"Meknes cell" members were sued for different charges including the setting up of a criminal gang to plot and commit terrorist acts, theft, vandalism, violence, forgery, possession of explosives and threatening the interior security of the state.
"Meknes cell" was sued under the anti-terrorism law enacted after the terrorist attacks that killed 45 people in Casablanca on 16 May 2003, including 12 suicide bombers.
It is hoped that Morocco, which is seen as possible the most enlightened and modern thinking of the Islamic countries, will not actually carry out the death penalty. In avoiding carrying out the death penalty Morocco knows it will prevent the two terrorists becoming seen as martyrs.
While most countries have moved away from carrying out what amounts to state murder, the United States, Singapore and China are still practitioners of state killing and condemned by most civilised countries.
Tags: Morocco, Fès, travel, news
2 comments:
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