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| Moroccan court jails critic of govt drugs policy |
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 RABAT (Reuters) - A Moroccan court Wednesday
Chakib El Khayari was given three years in prison and ordered to pay 753,930 dirhams (57,000 pounds) to Moroccan customs, official news agency MAP reported.The Casablanca criminal court of first instance said Khayari deposited money in foreign banks without the authorization of Morocco's Exchange Office. "The accused is also suspected of taking sums of money from foreign parties for leading a media campaign aimed at damaging and discrediting efforts deployed by the Moroccan authorities in the fight against drug trafficking," said MAP. He was charged on February 21 and was held in prison pending his trial.Khayari is from Nador in Morocco's northern Rif mountain region, where cannabis remains a lifeline for poor farming families and a source of wealth for drug trafficking gangs. The government says the drug trade declined last year as police broke up trafficking gangs and encouraged farmers to shift to alternative cultures. The area of cannabis under cultivation fell to 60,000 hectares in 2008 from 134,000 in 2003, according to official figures. The government expects it to fall to 50,000 hectares in 2009. Prosecutors said Khayari, who is head of the Rif Human Rights Association (ARDH), took a bribe to focus his media campaign against drug traffickers from Nador and to ignore the cannabis trade around Ketama further west. Khayari's lawyers intended to appeal against the court's verdict, said Goldstein.
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Comments (5)
Haddaoui
said:
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Freedom to all of us This how the moroccan government act against you when he wants it, and where he wants it...Haddouch , 3ème conseiller accidenté. Écrit par Ali kharroubi Dimanche, 05 Juillet 2009 Nous venons d’apprendre que l’Akhdar Haddouch , l’ancien maire de la ville d’Oujda et l’actuel premier vice président a eu un accident de circulation cette soirée et a été transféré d’urgence à la polyclinique Avicenne d’Oujda. Les premiers scanners avancent un traumatisme crânien sans réel danger puisque son état n’est pas grave selon une source de la clinque d’Avicenne. C’est le troisième conseiller à être victime d’accident en 48 H. l’accident le plus grave est celui de Noureddine Boubker, le conseiller du PJD, qui a été victime d’un coup de bâton reçu sur la tête alors qu’il s’apprêtait à quitter la salle de la municipalité en guise de protestation sur le déroulement de l’élection du bureau. Son état est critique puisqu’il est encore sous soins intensifs. De son coté Mohammed Belgaid du PJD a été tabassé par une R 18 sans matricule et voilà que Lakhdar Haddouch subit le même sort par une voiture immatriculée à l’étranger. Prompt rétablissement a nos trois conseillers. |
Slawi
said:
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Freedom for El Khayari The heavy sentence against the activist Chakib El Khayari aims to muzzle any voice or person in the future who want to interfere in the state affairs. |
omar
said:
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drug traffickers In Morocco all roads lead to prison.Instead of putting all those who protect drug traffickers and children smugglers into jail,they promote them; that is they appoint them to higher positions.Chakib is only a victim among others.Human Rights Organisation should support this man to get his freedom. |
a reader
said:
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... Fouad Ali El hima said the same thing and he was not brought to justice simply because he is a friend of the king. Chakib, do not worry! If I were I would the same thing. You did nothing wrong.Please keep your spirits up. I wish Allah will help you. You are a hero.regards |
Hmimarmad
said:
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... Same ol same ol , In Morocco if they do not get you on this, they'll get you on that. best is dkhol f souq rasek ou tkimmash ;) |
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