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A
woman relative of one of the defendants waiting for the court's
verdicts
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CASABLANCA,
August 19 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - A Moroccan criminal
court on Tuesday, August 19, sentenced four people to death and dozens
others to heavy jail terms for involvement in the bombing attacks that
killed 45 people in the city of Casablanca in May.
A
defense lawyer asserted that the sentences were much heavier than
expected, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The
four sentenced to death were Mohamed El Omari, a 23-year-old night
watchman, Rachid Jalil, a 27-year-old welder, Yassine Lahnech, a
22-year-old street vendor and Hassan Taousi, 24, considered to be a
leading member of Salafia Jihadia group.
They
had been charged with "sabotage and murder, undermining internal
state security and criminal conspiracy".
The
BBC's Pascale Harter, at the trial, said El Omari was mobbed by
passers-by when he fled from the Farah hotel in Casablanca after the
explosives he was carrying failed to detonate.
The
prosecution claimed Jalil and Taousi ran from their intended targets
when they heard the first explosion and took fright, said the broadcast.
It
added that Lahnech was referred to in the trial as " a reserve
suicide bomber, " recruited to carry out similar attacks elsewhere
in the country.
All
four men hail from the impoverished Casablanca suburb of Sidi Moumen,
said the BBC News Online.
On
May 17, 45 people, including 12 bombers, were killed
and scores more wounded in a string of bomb blasts that rocked Morocco's
second largest city of Casablanca.
The
blasts targeted the Belgian consulate, the Safir Hotel, a Jewish
community center, an old Jewish cemetery and a Spanish restaurant.
A
total of 634 people were arrested in massive police sweeps which
followed the Casablanca bombings which drew widespread international
condemnation.
None
of the 87 accused in the trial, which opened on July 21, were acquitted.
The
trial took place amid tight security with the accused appearing inside a
bulletproof glass cage.
The
court sentenced 37 of the accused to life in jail, 17 to 30 years and 16
others to 20 years.
A
further 11 people were sentenced to between six and 10 years in jail,
while two got 10-month sentences for "hiding criminals".
Four
alleged Islamic scholars were among those standing trial before the
Casablanca appeals court's criminal chamber.
One
was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the others getting 30-year
sentences.
The
first, 35-year-old Miloudi Zakaria, was accused of having played "a
key role in the action of extremist groups in Morocco" and of
distinguishing himself by his "bellicose preaching and his calls
for jihad against the rulers".
He
also headed an association called Assirat al Mostaquim (Straight Path),
which is alleged to have played a key role in the attacks alongside
Salafia Jihadia.
The
three other were Mohammed Fizazi, a 55-year-old teacher, Abdelkrim
Chadli, a 43-year-old doctor of philosophy, and Omar Haddouchi, a
42-year-old salesman, all accused of undermining state security,
criminal association, sabotage and inciting to violence.
The
defense is expected to lodge an appeal challenging the sentences and has
eight days to do so.
