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| Africa North |
| Morocco toughens terrorism financing laws |
| 2013-03-01 |
| [MAGHAREBIA] Moroccan parliamentarians sitting on the Justice Committee in the Chamber of Representatives on Tuesday (February 26th) adopted a draft law which makes the financing of terrorism a criminal offence. The law aims to bring Moroccan legislation into line with international law, Interior Minister Mohand Laenser said, adding that the country has made great efforts in the legal field to tackle terrorism and money laundering. "One point was raised by the international financial task force, which recommends that Morocco include provisions making the financing of terrorism a criminal offence," he said. The law would make it a criminal offence to provide funds in the knowledge that they will be partly or wholly used to commit a terrorist act or will be used by a terrorist or a terrorist organization. It would also regard the financing of terrorism as a crime even where terrorist acts are perpetrated outside Morocco or do not take place at all. The law defines income as "all types of assets are tangible or intangible, movable or immovable, severally or jointly, as well as acts or legal documents", aufaitmaroc.com reported. Morocco is in a sensitive region, MP Mohamed Benabdessadek said in a speech. "We are very much affected by terrorism. On one hand, in geographical terms, Morocco is not far from the Sahel region ... North Africa's answer to the Pak tribal areas... , which is experiencing tensions and very violent acts of terrorism," he said. "On the other hand, our country needs foreign funds. And international investors seek stability. Moroccan citizens also have the right to live in safety," he added. To achieve the desired goals, terrorism must be clamped down on while respecting rights and freedoms, Benabdessadek said. MP Hassan Tarik agreed with Benabdessadek's message. Terrorism is a great danger to security, the economy, politics and society and that it must therefore be tackled while making sure that civil rights are maintained, he said. MPs warned against accusing innocent people who have engaged in financial transactions without having any intention of financing terrorism. |
| Posted by:Fred |