German court convicts Moroccan of spying on Rif Movement supporters

The Higher Regional Court in Düsseldorf, Germany, on Monday convicted a Moroccan citizen of spying on supporters of the Rif Movement on behalf of Morocco’s foreign intelligence service, AFP reported.

In a statement, the court said the accused, identified as Youssef El A., was handed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended.

According to the court, Youssef El A. had been working for Moroccan intelligence «since at least January 2022», and, together with his partner Mohamed A., spied on members of the Rif Movement. The court noted that Youssef El A. himself had previously been a supporter of the movement.

Mohamed A. was convicted in August 2023 of similar charges and sentenced to one year and nine months in prison, also suspended.

During his trial, Youssef El A. confessed fully to the charges, the court said.

Following his arrest in Germany last January, Moroccan authorities denied any link to him. A Moroccan security source, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, described the accused as a «radical activist» holding a «hostile stance towards the kingdom», insisting he «has no ties to Moroccan intelligence services and has never gathered any information on their behalf».