MOROCCO: LAWYERS FOR THREE SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF AL QAEDA CHARGED WITH TRYING TO BLOW UP U.S. AND BRITISH WARSHIPS SAY THEIR IS NO EVIDENCE

Record ID: 648870

  • Title: MOROCCO: LAWYERS FOR THREE SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF AL QAEDA CHARGED WITH TRYING TO BLOW UP U.S. AND BRITISH WARSHIPS SAY THEIR IS NO EVIDENCE
  • Date: 19th January 2003
  • Summary: (W6) CASABLANCA, MOROCCO (JANUARY 17, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV ARRIVAL OF CARS WITH SUSPECTS IN THEM; MV SECURITY (2 SHOTS) 0.25 2. SLV ARRIVALS OF RELATIVES OF SUSPECTS (WOMAN IN WHEELCHAIR SISTER IN LAW OF ONE OF SUSPECTS; WOMAN AND MAN WITH CHILD ON ARM RELATIVES OF SUSPECT (2 SHOTS) 0.37 4. SLV EXTERIOR COURTROOM AND RELATIVES OF SUSPECTS; MV LAWYERS WALKING OUT OF COURTROOM (5 SHOTS) 1.23 5. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KHALIL IDRISSI, LAWYER FOR DEFENCE, SAYING "We think that the legal process is positive compared to what happened in the instruction period when the law was completely ignored. What we endured during the past was traumatic for us as lawyers because sometimes we were not allowed to assist the accused. We faced lots of problems in the past. There are so many positive signs now and we hope that the law will prevail at the end of this trial." 2.17 6. SLV PEOPLE IN COURTHOUSE; SCU VEILED SISTER IN LAW OF SUSPECT; MV VEILED RELATIVE WITH CHILD IN ARM (3 SHOTS) 2.42 7. SLV PEOPLE WALKING OUT OF COURT (2 SHOTS) 2.59 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 3rd February 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CASABLANCA, MOROCCO
  • Country: Morocco
  • Reuters ID: LVA5AMZZGR271AWS5WFLI4G6JIQO
  • Story Text: Lawyers for three suspected members of al Qaeda charged
    with trying to blow up U.S. and British warships have said
    Moroccan authorities had failed to produce any real evidence
    against their clients.

    The three Saudi nationals and seven alleged Moroccan
    accomplices returned to the Casablanca court on Friday after
    their trial was postponed for a third time in December.

    Lawyer Khalil Idrissi slammed what he called "violations
    of legal procedures" and told the court that authorities had
    failed to produce any real evidence against his clients.

    "We think that the legal process is positive compared to
    what happened in the instruction period when the law was
    completely ignored. What we endured during the past was
    traumatic for us as lawyers because sometimes we were not
    allowed to assist the accused. We faced lots of problems in
    the past. There are so many positive signs now and we hope
    that the law will prevail at the end of this trial."
    He said the charges against the defendants were fabricated
    by Morocco's secret service. "The whole case has been made up
    and sent to you by ghostly services," he told the court in
    reference to the secret services.

    Moroccan authorities arrested the 10 suspects in May and
    June, accusing them of planning "terrorist attacks" in Morocco
    and on warships in the Gibraltar Strait separating Africa from
    Europe, and of belonging to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda
    network.

    The panel of judges called 24 defence and prosecution
    witnesses and asked them to return to testify on January 31.

    The defence team had said that the suspects were tortured
    by security services, echoing earlier comments by opposition
    figures and human right activists that there was no real al
    Qaeda plot to open a new terror campaign in North Africa.

    They have argued that Moroccan security services may have
    been overzealous in trying to score a victory in the U.S.-led
    war on terror, which followed last year's September 11 attacks
    on the United States blamed on al Qaeda.

    Under Moroccan law, some members of the group could face
    the death penalty if convicted.


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