Morocco smashes another sleeper cell
2008-07-04
Moroccans are praising the arrest of 35 suspected terrorists based on information provided by Algerian authorities. Some however, say that security measures need to be complemented by economic and social development.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 04/07/08
 [Getty Images] While praising Moroccan security forces for dismantling another terror cell using information from Algerian authorities, Moroccans are also calling for social and economic measures to counter extremism. |
Moroccan security services arrested 35 suspected members of a terrorist ring specialising in recruiting volunteers for al-Qaeda in Iraq and Algeria, the Ministry of the Interior reported on Wednesday (July 2nd).
The terrorist ring was said to have recruited and arranged passage for some 30 would-be suicide bombers to Iraq and three volunteers seeking to fight for the organisation's branch in Algeria.
The arrests were made in Rabat, Oujda, Larache, Tangier, Ain Taoujtate and Skhinate based on confessions from three individuals recently arrested by Algerian security forces. The two countries apparently co-operated to share the information.
Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa said at a cabinet meeting on Thursday that the network had planned terrorist attacks threatening stability and security in the country.
"Everything will be done, in accordance with current legal procedures, to seek out the members of this network and hand them over to the courts. Investigations are now under way in order to arrest other persons outside Morocco," he said.
International relations professor Taj Eddine El Houssaini told Magharebia that "these latest arrests prove that there are sleeper cells in Morocco. This means that the necessary precautions must be taken to arrest them and prevent tragic accidents."
Houssaini said that the authorities are well aware of the threat and that their policy of prevention has had some success in dismantling sleeper cells before they strike.
However, the professor added that despite the precautions taken, a risk still remains.
"In addition to security measures, economic and social measures must also be employed in order to tackle the problem. This is the job of several parties including the government, political parties, civil society and schools."
Unified Socialist Party General Secretary Mohamed Moujahid agreed, stressing in a statement to Magharebia that focusing on the security angle alone is insufficient.
"The state should look to economic and social factors in order to build a true democracy and give people confidence in the future," he asserted.
Student Nawal Batal also weighed in.
"Of course we want to see the authorities to catch terrorists who threaten the safety of people and property, but this has to be done in observance of the law and civil liberties. I also think they should run awareness campaigns for young people in order to prevent them from being indoctrinated by fundamentalists," she told Magharebia.
This week's operation was the third to dismantle a terrorist ring in Morocco this year. In February, security services arrested 36 members of a terrorist group led by Abdelkader Belliraj, a dual Belgian-Moroccan national. In May, it was announced that an 11-member ring planning attacks in Morocco and Belgium had been broken up.
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حسن مناش Posted 2008-07-05
Be sure that any terrorist organization of any form is doomed to fail in Morocco. This doesn’t frighten the Moroccan people. They are convinced, thanks to the alertness of its citizens, to unveil any organization at its cradle. Days and years have proven the truthfulness of my words. Since the 1970’s and even before, Morocco has been uncovering the irreligious organizations in their cradle including the movement of Islamic youth, the Belliraj organisation and those after it. Morocco is lacking care about popular organisations ,which means society represented in its lowest class, so that there will be no blatant discrimination between the villa and the slum, between the salary of his Excellency the minister and the teacher, between the wage-earner and simple servant. We shouldn’t forget that Morocco is the paradise of Moroccans. Its abundant resources are enough for hundreds of millions and even more. Its land is arable and productive but there are some barren lands which rely on rain. Its seas can provide for other countries: At 3500 kilometres, its coast is the biggest of the Arab countries (the Atlantic and the Mediterranean). Its Sahara is productive, it has abundant phosphate. It just needs justice and good management. The king Mohamed VI is currently using all means to make Morocco appear in a good image and good economy. However, covetous and greedy hands which take everything are bigger than what we can imagine. But they won’t, at least on the short term, relinquish their acquirements unless there is an unusual firmness, a fair judgment voluntarily or involuntarily. This will plant hope in their souls. There will be aspirations for the future and trust will be restored, especially in the souls of young people who no longer trust their country. They think that their future plans can be achieved offshore. This is a mistake which weakens the country in the long and medium term because it makes it lose the power of its youth, which cannot be substituted. They are unfortunately exploited and consumed by others. They return them ultimately as old bodies or soulless and mindless corpses which sing outside the herd and swim against the current, the current of nationalism, concern and lost affection. It is a shame to lose these arms and brains which immigrate just for a living. We must integrate our young people in every development and consideration because it is a power.
Kabs Posted 2008-07-05
Long live Moroccan-Algerian co-operation! There is strength in unity! Down with the barbarians and their practices from centuries past!
saidani miloudi Posted 2008-07-05
MOROCCO SMASHES ANOTHER SLEEPER CELL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE NEGLECTS GANGS WHO BUY AND SELL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DRUGS ,DEAD CORPSES, AND SEXY FLESH ***************** BE WISE TO AVOID ANY SOCIAL CLASH ******************* AND MOROCCO'S ENEMIES GO TO HELL ******************** NEVER SLEEP ,YOU SECURITY AGENTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BE FAIR ,TRUSTWORTHY AND PATIENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TERRORISM IS NOTHING BUT A WHIM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT DOESN'T SCARE ANY TRUE MOSLIM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHO BELIEVES IN GOD UNDER THE KING'S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DEMOCRATIC RULE WHERE VICTORY RINGS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Moulay Hesham Posted 2008-07-07
Morocco has always been a land of peace and security and the people of Morocco will always follow true Islam we do not subscribe to the Islam which say's it is OK to kill your neighbours just because they have different view points to us or because they are Jewish or Christian. Morocco practices true Islam so muslims extremists who think they can bring their barbarism into Morocco will ultimately fail!
gol Posted 2008-07-12
Morocco does not need Algeria to ensure its security or anything else. What is there to worry about!? We should worry more about reforming, this is to say: the separation of powers and the separation of the church and state. Otherwise, we will run smack into a wall.
البتار المغربي Posted 2008-07-12
God is all protecting! I know some of these detained brothers. I swear I know them to be the most honorable young people. To summarize, there was indeed an attempt to send recruits to Iraq to fight the oppressing occupiers. This is a religious duty…without further details, we have to admit that the enemy has come close to our doors and must be fought. Any other claims of planned attacks, are a flat lie and part of a routine smear by the puppet governments in the region…and God is my witness.
zargoubi Posted 2008-07-14
You see how the murderers come from the west!? They are our neighbours! That is why we need to build a wall 100 meters high and secure our border with mines like when France was here. Algeria is in danger of these men from the West. They provide arms and people to kill the Algerians. But, God willing, Allah is going to punish you, you cheaters!!!
le buteur Posted 2008-07-16
To Gol:Wwith its vast experience dealing with terrorism, Algeria will help Morocco and it will not be embarrassed by the idiotic opinions of those who know nothing about diplomacy! If you are worried about Algeria helping Morocco, it is because you have a poor mind and you are under-developed. Your country asked for help, and we will give it to you without keeping tally. We are not negative about this. Think a little bit, so you don’t become anti-Maghrebi.
slim16 Posted 2008-07-18
Bravo Le Buteur! Your reasoning is quality! But, there are some people who are so narrow-minded that they do not understand anything about policies for helping neighbours that share the same border and the same dangers. Terrorism is a bloodthirsty beast that does not stop at the border, but runs rampant, creating evil. If we do not stop it in time, uniting together with one another, then we risk blowing up the Maghrebi bloc. Algeria has a lot of experience with this scourge and is becoming more and more mature in its relentless fights against the fanatical terrorists. Its great capacity for analysing such information will always greatly contribute to its neighbouring countries countering of the vile beast that is terrorism. So, those who do not need Algeria’s services are either in their accomplices or are brainless idiots.
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