The latest verdict in a Moroccan terrorism case was handed down Thursday (July 11th) -- this time concerning notorious Meknes bomber Hicham Doukkali, the young engineer who attempted to blow himself up with a butane cannister near a bus packed with tourists on August 13th, 2007. He was sentenced to life in prison, while accomplice and fellow engineer Hassan Azougar was given a ten-year prison term. The pair had been charged with "conspiracy to prepare for and commit acts of terrorism connected with a personal plan with the aim of undermining public order by means of terror, violence and the manufacture, storage and use of explosives to endanger the lives and safety of others".
Investigations after the Doukkali's arrest led to the apprehension of four engineers in Meknes, Salé and Tinjdade: all worked with the failed bomber for the regional tax office. Last June, the case against three of them collapsed.
Moroccans have been closely following the verdicts handed down in terrorism cases, and many have hailed the security policy being pursued by the state. However, they have also called for officials to respect personal freedoms and the law by not mistakenly accusing innocent people. The Interior ministry says that the measures taken by the authorities to tackle terrorism comply with the judicial regulations passed by the legislature and that they are still subject to review by the courts to ensure freedoms will be respected and public order upheld. The Moroccan government has employed a tough security strategy since the suicide bombings in Casablanca on May 16th, 2003. Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa says terrorist forces still pose a significant threat, meaning the government and all sectors of society must remain vigilant.
The government has set about overhauling institutions engaging in the fight against terrorism to make them more efficient. It has also stepped up international co-operation efforts with regard to the campaign against terror. According to officials, information gathered by Moroccan intelligence and shared with foreign security services has made it possible to stop a number of terrorist rings before they were able to strike.
Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi says the government's response to terrorism includes a commitment to development policies to tackle unemployment and underemployment, create the necessary conditions for growth and improve living standards.
Political Science professor Ahmed Belarbi told Magharebia that the Moroccan authorities have succeeded thus far with its security strategy, but says terrorists could still "strike at any moment" no matter how vigilant the authorities are.