Articles for Morocco

Morocco: Italian "extraordinary rendition" victim tortured during mass prison transfer

Abou Elkassim Britel, an Italian national of Moroccan origins and a victim of "extraordinary rendition" in 2002, was recently tortured during a mass prison transfer to Kenitra prison, 200km west of Fes, in early October 2010.

In March 2002 he was arrested in Pakistan, handed over to the American authorities, who then transferred him to the Moroccan authorities. After one year of secret detention he was released without charge. On his way back to Italy from Morocco, he was once again arrested - this time sentenced to 15 years on the basis of confessions extracted under torture.

21 Nov 2010

Morocco: Three young men abducted by government agents in Casablanca

On 27 October 2010 Abdellatif Kouibaat and Badr Kounine were kidnapped in Casablanca. Three days later Azdine Braik was abducted while in the streets of Fès. All three were picked up by plain-clothed security agents and taken to an unknown destination. They have not been seen since.

On 17 November 2010 Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the Working Group on enforced and involuntary disappearances (WGEID), requesting their intervention with Moroccan authorities, so that the three men are freed immediately or at least given adequate legal protection.

17 Nov 2010

Morocco: Abdellatif Akhdif disappeared, life in danger

Mr Abdellatif Akhdife Ben Bouchaib was abducted by Moroccan security agents on 17 October 2010. He was escorted to an unmarked vehicle, and driven to an unknown location.

On 25 October 2010 Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) requesting it to intervene with the Moroccan authorities in order that Mr Akhdife be released or have placed under legal protection.

25 Oct 2010

Morocco: Prisoners Transferred en masse to Kenitra Central Prison

Alkarama has been informed that early on Saturday 9 October 2010 Moroccan authorities forcibly transferred between 89 and 140 detainees (according to sources) from prisons in Tangiers, Fes, Meknes, Souk Larbaa, Ben Slimane, Okacha prison complex in Casablanca, and El Jedida to a new building in Kenitra Central Prison.

The detainees were woken up in the early hours of Saturday 9 October 2010, shackled and blindfolded, before being transported to Kenitra Central Prison.

12 Oct 2010

Morocco: Abductee Remains Disappeared, Authorities Deny Arrest

Rachid Almakki was abducted by intelligence officers on 23 April 2010 in Casablanca and taken to an unknown location.

27 Jul 2010

Morocco: Forced Confessions Threaten Heavy Sentences

Alkarama has just been informed that both Younes Zarli and Said Ezziouani are being held at Salé prison. While in custody they were held in incommunicado detention and subjected to torture, before ever receiving their indictments.

28 Jun 2010

Morocco: Several detainees reappear following weeks incommunicado detention

During the last two months Alkarama submitted the cases of eight individual disappearances to the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID). The disappearances and connected to the so-called "fight against terrorism". In the last several months, the Moroccan authorities have launched several waves of arrests, during which many people have been held in secret detention.

Alkarama received information that the individuals listed below reappeared following a court appearance on 6 May 2010.

06 Jun 2010

Morocco: Mohamed Boutarfas and Zouhair Benkassou abducted from their homes in Rabat

On 1 May 2010, two engineering students, Mohamed Boutarfas, 22, and Zouhair Benkassou, 23, were abducted from their homes by plain clothed intelligence officers in Rabat and taken to an unknown destination. They are now disappeared and it is feared that they are held incommunicado and exposed to torture.

Alkarama sent their case to the Special Rapporteur against Torture on 7 May 2010, requesting his intervention with the Moroccan authorities to ensure that both men are put under the protection of the law.

07 May 2010

Morocco: Mahdi Maliani is kidnapped, missing for almost three months

Over the past several weeks, the Moroccan authorities have been carrying out a strategy of enforced disappearances, which continues to claims victims as the waves of arrests persists. Condemnation from the UN and human rights NGOs has done little to impede the Moroccan authorities.

Mahmi Maliani, a 22 year-old Engineering student from Casablanca, was abducted on the morning of 19 March 2010 by security services officers while on his way to the local mosque for Friday prayers and has since disappeared. Numerous bystanders witnessed his kidnapping.

05 May 2010

Morocco: Khalid Etefia arrested after trying to visit his wife in jail

Khalid Etefia, who lives in France, was arrested by the Moroccan authorities on 8 February 2010 after arriving in Morocco, where he had planned to visit his wife Doha Aboutabit who has been detained since 3 December 2009. Both are currently held inside Salé prison.

At 3am on 8 February 2010, Khalid Etefia was arrested in his hotel room in Rabat. On the same day, he was brought before the investigating judge of Rabat's Court of Appeals and sent to Salé prison. The couple, although detained inside the same prison, has been unable to see each other.

04 May 2010