| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa North |
| Moroccan justice minister may seek royal pardon for Salafists |
| 2012-01-23 |
| [Magharebia] Morocco's newly appointed justice minister could soon seek a royal pardon for Salafist ...Salafists espouse an austere form of Sunni Islam that seeks a return to practices that were common in the 7th century. Rather than doing that themselves and letting other people alone they insist everybody do as they say and they try to kill everybody who doesn't... jihadists. Justice Minister Mustapha Ramid has long been a champion of the issue, working for detainees as a lawyer and during his time as chairman of the Forum for Dignity (Al Karama). The minister, a member of the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), is expected to announce his official position on the cases soon. The Salafists have high expectations. Since the release of around ten Salafist detainees after a pardon from King Mohammed VI following a recommendation from the National Human Rights Advisory Council (CNDH) in April 2011, others have been waiting for their turn. Ramid's appointment has revived those hopes. Released nine months ago, former Salafist detainee Mohamed Fizazi was once sentenced to 30 years in prison because of the ideological influence he had over the 2003 Casablanca bombers. Fizazi said his wish came true with Ramid's appointment to the justice ministry. "Ramid is courageous in defending people's rights. He defended our cause with great daring. He now needs to open an inquiry into the case of the Salafists, which is clearly a thorny issue and full of injustice," commented the man known as the "Prince of the Salafists". The minister has made it known that his ministry cannot intervene in cases that have already gone before independent magistrates. According to Ramid, the only solution available for the moment is to prepare a case for a royal pardon, and to lay it before the sovereign. The minister said that there would certainly be the possibility of a legislative general amnesty under Article 71 of the new constitution, but that the procedure would be lengthy. "No individual, including the justice minister, has the right to intervene now or at any time in the future in decisions taken by magistrates," Ramid said. |
| Posted by:Fred |