chargement...
The six Moroccans detained for years in prisons in Puntland, northeastern Somalia, returned to Morocco last week after being acquitted by Somali courts of terrorism-related charges. They are currently being questioned by Moroccan authorities in Salé over the circumstances that led them to travel to the region in the first place.
Abderrahim Ghazali, spokesperson for the Joint Committee for the Defense of Islamist Detainees, told Yabiladi that the men arrived in Morocco on Friday, May 7, through Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca before being transferred to the Judicial Police headquarters in Salé.
According to Ghazali, the repatriation process involved several stages, moving first from Puntland to Ethiopia, then to Egypt, before finally reaching Morocco. He praised Moroccan authorities for their efforts in securing the detainees’ return.
He also said families were contacted shortly after the men arrived and were informed that they were «in good condition». Relatives were also allowed to appoint lawyers and bring them clothes during the ongoing investigation period.
Despite the relief surrounding their return, Ghazali said the families’ joy remains incomplete as long as the men remain in custody.
«The real challenge now goes beyond bringing them back to Morocco», he said. «Given the conditions they endured, their acquittal in Somalia, and the years they spent behind bars, there are strong humanitarian and legal grounds for their release».
Families Relieved but Still Waiting
The detainees’ families say their return has eased years of anxiety, even as uncertainty over the ongoing investigations remains.
The wife of detainee Abdelkader El Othmani said the family managed to speak with him while he was traveling from Ethiopia to Egypt. She added that Moroccan authorities reassured them about the detainees’ health and treatment upon arrival.
Originally from Sidi Slimane, El Othmani had been struggling with unstable work before leaving Morocco, she said. According to her, he migrated irregularly in search of better economic opportunities and was misled by people promising jobs and investment projects in what they described as a «promising» region. Instead, he ended up in an area where ISIS-linked groups were active.
She said the family now hopes Moroccan authorities will also clear him or at least hand down a reduced sentence, especially given his age and health issues.
Khalid Ladraa’s wife shared similar feelings. She said her husband contacted her while en route from Ethiopia to Egypt to inform her that he was finally heading home. Learning of his arrival in Morocco brought «immense relief», she said.
According to her, authorities contacted the families directly after the detainees landed and assured them they were in good condition. However, families still have no indication of how long the investigations will continue or what outcome to expect.
Still, she said, the families «finally see a glimmer of hope» after years spent worrying about the harsh conditions their relatives endured in Puntland prisons.
The six Moroccans were arrested in Puntland several years ago on terrorism-related charges. A military court initially sentenced them to death before they were acquitted on appeal and ordered deported to Morocco. The deportation order remained unimplemented for more than two and a half years before finally being carried out this month.
