![[AFP/Georges Gobet] Malian President Dioncounda Traore and European Parliament President Martin Schulz hold a joint press conference in Brussels.](/awi/images/2013/05/24/130524Feature1Photo1-90_59.jpg)
![[Jamel Arfaoui] Visitors of all ages visit Tunisia's newly inaugurated Bourguiba Museum.](/awi/images/2013/05/24/130524Feature2Photo1-90_59.jpg)
![[Jemal Oumar] Mauritanian activist Bedou Ould Salek is working with young people to promote a culture of tolerance.](/awi/images/2013/05/24/130524Feature3Photo1-90_59.jpg)
![[File] AQIM leader Ahmed Abu Abdul-Elah Al-Jigli issued a new audio message warning the Tunisian government against cracking down on salafists.](/awi/images/2013/05/23/130523Feature1Photo1-90_59.jpg)
2012-06-05
Hizb ut-Tahrir trial begins in Morocco
By Mohamed Saadouni for Magharebia in Casablanca – 06/05/12
The trial of three young men affiliated with the Islamist Hizb ut-Tahrir began May 29th in Aïn Sebâa, Casablanca.
The National Brigade of the Judicial Police (BNJP) arrested alleged cell leader Thami Najim – a Moroccan computer engineer who holds Danish citizenship – last February, along with co-defendants Fouad Said and Mounir Darouri. Several documents, leaflets and CDs promoting the ideology of Hizb ut-Tahrir were seized during the arrests.
"Elements from the BNJP managed to dismantle a cell of the so-called Hizb ut-Tahrir which is classified as a saboteur group with international dimensions," the interior ministry said.
![[AFP/Abdelhak Senna] Three Moroccan men are on trial in Casablanca, accused of supporting Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir.](/awi/images/2012/06/05/120605Feature2Photo1-650_429.jpg)
The communiqué accused the three of planning to undermine "the country's security and stability by recruiting the biggest possible number of supporters", adding they received financial support from Europe to promote "their nihilist ideology via the distribution of leaflets in which they cast doubts on the efficacy of democracy and incite commotion".
The defendants are charged as per chapter 201 of the penal code, which states that those who are guilty of breaching the internal security of the state shall be punished, and perpetrators of attacks aimed at provoking civil war by arming or encouraging a group of citizens to arm themselves shall be put to death.
If convicted, they face prison terms ranging from five to 20 years.
The court refused to examine a number of formal arguments filed by the defence lawyers in the case that has sparked a broad debate in the kingdom. The justice ministry also denied a request by Imad Eddine Hadou, a leader of the banned Islamist group in Tunisia, to represent the three young people. "
In our opinion as defence lawyers, the file contains a number of violations, including the violation of secrecy of investigations and interrogations," Issam Ibrahimi, one of the defence lawyers of the detainees, told Magharebia.
He noted that "after the arrest of the defendants, the executive authorities represented by the interior ministry issued a communiqué condemning the defendants and accusing them of sabotage."
"Those defendants embrace ideas and the code of criminal procedure doesn't punish ideas but acts," the defence lawyer added in a statement to Magharebia. "Those young people belong to Hizb ut-Tahrir, which promises a caliphate following the style of Prophet without embracing violence," he claimed.
Hizb ut-Tahrir is a banned international Islamic party advocating the change of a "corrupt" society and turning it into an Islamic society. The party also embraces the Islamic call and jihad in hopes of realising the dream of a caliphate and the establishment of an Islamic state governed by the principle of halal and haram according to party supporters' understanding.
Richid Elmounasafi, an analyst specialised in terrorism-related criminology, told Magharebia that "in its principles and major goals, Hizb ut-Tahrir is similar to many of the cells that were previously dismantled, such as the Ansar al-Mehdi cell led by Sheikh Hassan Khattab which was dismantled in August 2006 and which had the major goal of undermining the existing regime to establish the Islamic caliphate state."
"It's also similar to the Abou Yacine group which came out of Ansar al-Mehdi after a dispute about the leadership of believers and after Hassan Khattab announced his support of ideological revisions at prison," Elmounasafi added.
He explained that "there was also another group that was previously dismantled and is similar to Hizb ut-Tahrir in the demand about Islamic caliphate, i.e. Al Mourabitine Al Jodod (New Fighters Group), which was dismantled in mid-2008 and which had organisational ties with al-Qaeda and was aiming to overthrow the existing regime and establish the caliphate state."
Subscribe to our newsletter and get Magharebia's latest articles delivered to your inbox.
![[Imrane Binoual] Members of the organising committee, Chairman of the Moroccan Centre for Strategic Studies, Mohamed Benhamou (left) and Director General of the Center for Strategic Studies, Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi.](/awi/images/2013/05/21/130521GalleryPhoto1-271_179.jpg)
![[Mohamed Foily] ACS Ksar secure Mauritania league lead by beating Police on Day 22.](/awi/images/2013/05/20/130520Feature3Photo1-190_125.jpg)
![[Jamel Arfaoui] Tunisian security forces continue to pursue al-Qaeda linked terrorists in Jebel Chaambi.](/awi/images/2013/05/16/130516Feature2Photo1-190_125.jpg)
![[AFP/Abdelhak Senna] Rescue workers transport the bodies of victims killed in Casablanca, early on May 17th, 2003.](/awi/images/2013/05/17/130515ReportagePhoto1-190_125.jpg)
POST YOUR COMMENT 8
Anonymous 2012-6-10
To رامي-بيت المقدس. You aren’t aware of what is plotted, a new Middle East to destroy the Arab world in the name of Wahabbi, Sauadi, Qatari Islam. All this is a plot against the Palestinian cause to destroy it once and for all. You and others like you are required to keep quiet because you are Rouaybidate (pl of Rouaybidat).
0 Likes
Anonymous 2012-6-8
To the rat : رامي-بيت المقدس. If you were really believing in the unity of Islam, you and other stupid traitors like you wouldn’t have been plotting against Syria. The day Syria will fall (God forbids), you will regret it when it is too late Khwanjia, o traitors o idles!
0 Likes
رامي-بيت المقدس 2012-6-7
Our hearts are with people of Islam in Morocco. May God unite us under one flag!
0 Likes
ابو اسماعيل 2012-6-6
These government positions by the ministry of justice are flagrant evidence that Justice & Development party is a mere façade of the regime with an Islamic identity and background. The ministry of justice is a system supervised by the elected government. What stirs attention is that this government started from the uterus of the regime itself not in a special pattern of governance, administration or running the affairs of people. It is carrying out its political agenda within the system of old government. So it was positioned in the political reality and didn’t change it. It has even become its engine in its action and source of political ideas. So it is not odd that it accepts arraigning Muslim members from Hizb Attahrir or any other side who act for the radical change and their exclusion from the political life and even hold them accountable for promoting virtue and preventing vice even if it leads to neutralizing the legal side in the defense procedures or pleading. Even laws have no supremacy, they are just indefinite keeping pace with the political affairs in the state. Therefore, the government took Islam as a whole and sold it in retail for the life of others. In principle, the judicial environment should have been reformed and from there other executive and legislatives powers can be reformed.
0 Likes
abdul-fattah al-ghazzawi 2012-6-6
Such a shame that people with ideas can't propagate those ideas withoutbeing arrested and harassed. Shows weakness in the ideas of the police state of Morocco that they won't even allow proper defence of people who espouse ideas different to the regime. Their downfall is closer than they think, if they remain on this oppressive course.
0 Likes
ابو اسماعيل 2012-6-6
If you see and read the news, you will feel that the ban from representing the defendants concerns criminals or killers who committed crimes of killing, slaying and skinning humans while their only charge is their affiliation to a political party whose only action is politics. However, the question that rises is why young people of Hizb Attahrir??!! The answer: it is because they have a project which constitutes a threat to Arab regimes whose continuity is supported by the west and east on the heart of the Islamic Umma to make it taste all forms of torture. It is the project which bears salvation for the Umma and its life. It is the return to the rule of God and liberation of the Umma from the dependency to the west the criminal. Their method to reach this is bearing this project to Umma in the way of the prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him, which is a way in which material things are not used. Therefore, they are certainly not criminals or killers. They are like the physician for the ailment of this Umma. Do you understand now why young people of Hizb Attahrir are fought and tried??!! “Indeed, Allah defends those who have believed.” So be patient o holders of the banner of change, o beacon of truth and symbol of belief. However, the merchandise of God is very dear, it is paradise. By God, no matter how long you live, you will die, you will be resurrected and will be sent either to hell or paradise.
0 Likes
Habeeb 2012-6-6
It is well known that Hizb ut Tahrir is a non violent political party based on Islam. Only those that seek to defend a secular vision oppose the vision of a Khilafah. The return of which was promised by the Prophet Muhammad himself. It should be secular politicians that should be in trial for sending this glorious ummah backwards.
0 Likes
البروفسور عبد الرحمن الحاج 2012-6-5
If engineer Thami Najim were a gay or a deviant, the embassy of Denmark and all embassies of the West would have reacted to defend him. Since Thami is calling for Islam and acts for the restoration of the Caliphate state which institutes the sharia of God with Hizb Attahrir. So there is no one to mourn Thami. The question that is addressed to Benkisrane is: Didn’t you defend young people of Hizb Attahrir in front of the Moroccan justice a few years ago? So what has changed today? Or have government positions made you forget Islam? Where are followers of Benkirane? Is there not among you a man of reason? Who have made you access to the seats of the House of Representative? Aren’t they votes of Muslims? Imprisonment doesn’t change convictions. Hizb Attahrir is a world party. It is moving ahead to power without doubt and it will soon institute the Caliphate, God willing. “Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.” Finally, we say to the engineer and his arrested brothers be patient. You should know that victory comes with patience. “Allah is with you and will never deprive you of [the reward of] your deeds.”
0 Likes