Morocco dismantles widespread domestic terrorist network
2008-02-21
Investigations into a suspected terrorist network in Morocco led to the arrests of three senior political party officials, Morocco's interior ministry announced on Wednesday. The group, trained in part by Hezbollah, is believed to have links to al-Qaeda.
By Sarah Touahri and Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat – 21/02/08
 [Sarah Touahri] Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday (February 20th) Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa said Moroccan investigators have dismantled a "major Jihadist terror network" established in Tangier in 1992. |
Moroccan authorities announced Monday (February 18th) that security services had dismantled a "major Jihadist terrorist network, which was preparing to perpetrate acts of violence in the country." Painstaking intelligence work led to the identification and subsequent arrest of the group's main active members.
Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa told the press on Wednesday that the investigations had uncovered a number of branches of the network, originally established in 1992 in Tangier. The group had connections to terrorist organisations active in Morocco and abroad, including al-Qaeda. Benmoussa said the network was preparing to assassinate top-level civilian and military officials and Moroccan Jewish citizens.
In all, 32 people representing a broad cross-section of society have been detained. Many are educated professionals, one is a police superintendent and three more are senior political party leaders. The network is reportedly led by Moroccan Abdelkader Belliraj, a resident of Belgium.
The interior ministry said searches of the residences and workplaces of members of the "Belliraj Cell" in Casablanca and Nador led to the seizure of large quantities of weapons, ammunitions and explosives, as well as supplies intended to conceal the terrorists' identities.
The ministry added that police helped to identify the sources of financing for the Belliraj cell, including armed robbery, sale of stolen goods, and direct contributions by members. The terrorist organisation also reportedly smuggled some 30 million dirhams into the country in 2001 that were invested in money-laundering endeavours in tourist, real estate and commercial projects in several Moroccan cities. Real estate purchased by the group was also used to house some of the terrorists.
The interior minister also revealed that the group received explosives and arms training from Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2002.
The Moroccan public was perhaps most shocked by the arrests of Secretary-General Mustapha Lmouaatassim and El Amine Regala of the Al-Badil Al-Hadari (Civilised Alternative) party, as well as Mohamed El Merouani, leader of the unrecognised Al Oumma (The Nation) party.
According to the interior minister, the terrorist network was found to be instrumental in the creation of the Al-Badil Al-Hadari party. As a result, Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi decreed the dissolution of the party, under Article 57 of the law governing political parties.
Al-Badil Al-Hadari contributed to the creation of an Islamist association in 1995 before becoming a full-fledged party in 2005. The party fielded candidates in the September 2007 legislative elections but failed to win any seats.
Al Oumma began as a partisan offshoot of Al Haraka Min Ajli Oumma (Movement for the Nation). Founded in 1998, the party applied for government recognition in 2007 but has yet to be approved.
"The creation of the Al-Badil Al-Hadari association in 1995 and Al Haraka Min Ajli Al Oumma in 1998," Chakib Benmoussa explained, "was just a front for the members of the [terrorist] network."
Saad Al Othmani, Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party expressed his surprise at the arrests, saying the political leaders were "all known for moderation, rejection of violence and extremism, and for working within the framework of institutions and established national principles."
"We are sure that there is some sort of an error," he said, "and we hope it will be corrected."
Meanwhile, Mohamed Moujahid, leader of Morocco's Unified Socialist Party, said the charges are "in contradiction with their stances that call for modernity, democracy and human rights".
Mohamed Ziane, leader of the Moroccan Liberal Party, commented on the case, saying, "Political struggle has nothing to do with violence. The proponents of a culture of violence have no place in politics. This rule applies to both leftist and rightist ideologies."
In a statement issued Tuesday, Ibrahim Borja, Vice-Secretary-General of Al-Badil Al-Hadari condemned Mustapha Lmouaatassim's arrest, describing him and El Amine Regala as proponents of democracy and rejecters of all forms of extremism and terrorism, and called for their immediate release.
He said the arrests were a crackdown on people trying to effect a real democratic transition in Morocco. Mohamed Ben Hammou, leader of the Citizenship and Development Initiative party, said if the allegations prove true, then it is both shocking and frustrating. "Morocco is our country. We should defend it, particularly when we accept a position of political responsibility. We have to be vigilant when it comes to extremism. No one has the right to go down any route other than the democratic one," he declared.
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مصطفىكريم Posted 2008-02-22
Salam alaikoum my dear brothers. We shouldn't anticipate events, shouldn't believe everything that is said about us and shouldn't make instant judgements. Islam disowns everything that is plotted. Whatever they say, Islam is the solution to our problems. Salaam.
Hadj AMAL Posted 2008-02-22
Following the dismantling of this terrorist network, I am seizing this opportunity to extend my sincere congratulations to everyone, near and far, who participated in dealing them this once-and-for-all blow. I am very proud to see that our effort is effective. Again, bravo!
chihab-25 Posted 2008-02-22
The fight against terrorism is a matter of life and death for all Moroccans. With this new case of the Belgian-Moroccan Ben Lairej Abdelkader’s terrorism, Mr. Chakib Benmoussa, Minister of the Interior, paid homage to police services alone, congratulating the Kingdom’s regional administration, without doing the same for the people of Casablanca and Nador, both of whom participated in dismantling of this network, via the information they provided and their remote radio control in this affair. With regards to a great and strong Morocco, we are proud to be Moroccan and proud to denounce any terrorist threat able to sow disorder in our public order and threaten our country’s tranquility. We are proud, therefore, to save our dear Morocco from what is unfortunately happening on our Eastern neighbour’s side! Despite the security and military capabilities at its disposition, it could not put an end to the terrorist actions constantly threatening it and the innocent lives of Algerians in broad daylight. It is clearly visible that the Algerian authorities, for all their failures and confused neglect, have become weak. They were very weak even before this scourge invaded Algeria with the coming of the FIS-92, who have done nothing more than take root with Algeria’s political and military victims as they accomplices. We Moroccans do not want to end up in this situation. That is why we are all acting as a third eye for our National Security Services and the Royal Gendarmerie. That way, we can catch these terrorist cells at dawn when they are still dormant, and not have to fight them with live fire. -Chihab-25
acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2008-02-22
Morocco is a country above all threats of terrorism. We are able to dismantle any terrorist network. Our skills are without limit in regards to the fight against terrorism.
acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2008-02-22
Calm down. Morocco is above all threats of terrorism. Morocco, a country of peace and tolerance, was, is and will be a safe country, able to face any who dare think about harming our security. We are above all threats of terrorism, because the terrorists are nothing but a band of cowards, who, other than for destruction, have no plans. I say to them: “The game has gone too far!” Signed, Moulay Abdellah Bouskraoui
Ahmed Posted 2008-02-28
In Response to “Chihab 25”: It should be known that terrorism threatens all the region’s countries; no country in the world is safe. Moreover, the investigation in Mauritania determined that there were two Moroccan terrorists and another two Tunisian terrorists. We should already be asking the question, “How did terrorists of three different nationalities (Mauritanians were also implicated) link their knowledge together to perpetrate the bombing?” Even the United States, with all of its technology and security services (for example: the CIA and the FBI) have not been not spared. As for Algeria, active terrorists are from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. In my opinion, there needs to be police co-operation between the countries of the Maghreb and continuous investigations, which could extend into neighbouring countries. The exchange of intelligence should be the basis of this co-operation, bypassing the embassies in order to not lose time. In order to fight this, a new approach is needed. Accusing the soldiers over here is not faire. For a few years now, ever since the president fired General Lamari, Algeria has possessed a republican army at the state’s disposal just like all of the other countries. It is just that the old responses are still there, meaning that the army is doing politics in the same way the newspapers in Morocco always justify their sources with the phrase “according to observers”. Furthermore, Radio broadcasters and the people who are counting solely on the state to make their living are propagating false accusations. It must be recognised that a museum should be built for the FLN party; our young people’s skills are underestimated.
borja adil Posted 2009-09-06
Maybe Belliraj is guilty, but what mistakes did the other leaders make? They were hunted down just because they had contact with Belliraj in 1982. Honestly, this is unjust waaaaaa3.. We are in fact in a democratic country and yet we are erring in our justice like this!? When are we going to do away with this injustice?
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