Ali Aarrass is Moroccan-Belgian citizen who was imprisoned in Morocco on charges of terrorism.[1][2]

He was first arrested in Spain in late 2008 and accused of arms smuggling but was acquitted of these charges there. However Spain extradited him to Morocco in December 2010.[3][4] According to reports, in addition to the unfair trial, Aarrass was subjected to torture and degrading treatment while imprisoned in Morocco.[4]

In November 2011, Abdelkader Chentouf the Moroccan anti-terrorism judge,[5] sentenced Aarrass to 12 years in prison on the basis of confessions obtained under torture. His imprisonment was the focus of a long campaign by human rights groups and other international NGOs, as well as the Belgium-based "Free Ali" committee.[6] He was released on 2 April 2020,[7] and was reunited with his sister in Melilla before being repatriated to Belgium.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Baudoin Loos (7 February 2014). "La Belgique doit assurer une protection consulaire à Ali Aarrass dans sa prison au Maroc". DemainOnline. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  2. ↑ Baudouin Loos (1 October 2013). "La Belgique va-t-elle se soucier d'Ali Aarrass?". Le Soir. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Moroccan man forcibly returned by Spain could face torture". Amnesty International. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  4. 1 2 "State crime and the War on Terror: the trial of Ali Aarrass 18 October 2012". International State Crime Initiative. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "Où en est-on dans l'affaire Ali Aarrass ?". FreeAli.com. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  6. 1 2 Wahoub Fayoumi (2 April 2020). "Ali Aarrass libéré au Maroc". RTBF.
  7. ↑ Baudouin Loos (2 April 2020). "Le Belgo-Marocain Ali Aarrass a été libéré au Maroc". Le Soir.
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