Terror-cell ringleader Belliraj receives life sentence
2009-07-28
A Moroccan court on Tuesday (July 28th) sentenced Belgian-Moroccan Abdelkader Belliraj, 50, to life in prison for plotting terror attacks and assassinations in Morocco, arms trafficking and other charges, MAP and international press reported. Prosecutors had asked the Salé court to impose the death penalty on the terror-cell ringleader.
More than 30 co-defendants, including several well-known public figures, were also sentenced to jail terms of 2 to 30 years.
Mustapha Moatassim and Al-Amin Arrajala, leaders of the al-Badil al-Hadari (Civilised Alternative) party and Mohamed El Merouani, leader of the unrecognised Al Oumma (The Nation) party, received 25-year prison sentences. Lebanese Hizbullah's TV station Al Manar correspondent Abdellah Sriti and Alaa Badella Maa El Ainin, a member of Morocco's Justice and Development party, received 20-year jail terms.
Morocco dismantled the Belliraj terror cell in February 2008. The group leader admitted to having a network of contacts with al-Qaeda.
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