Rabat, Oct 3, 2012 (AFP)
Rabat, Oct 3, 2012 (AFP)
Ali Aarrass, a Belgian-Moroccan sentenced on appeal to 12 years in jail for “terrorism” who has said he signed confessions under torture, will appeal the latest court ruling, his lawyers said Wednesday.
Aarrass, who was handed a 15 years jail term after being extradited from Spain in 2010, had his sentenced reduced on appeal on Monday by the same court in Sale that originally convicted him.
His lawyers described the trial as “unfair,” saying Aarrass “attempted to explain the torture to which he was subjected… (but) the court refused to listen.”
“In the absence of a response from the UN Committee against Torture,” which “received an urgent request to oblige Morocco to set up an independent inquiry… his unfair conviction has become inevitable,” they said in a statement.
His lawyer’s said their client now plans to take the case to Morrocco’s highest court.
“This new ordeal simply reinforces the determination of Ali Aarrass, his family, the support committee and his lawyers to obtain justice. An appeal in the court of cassation will be introduced in the coming days,” the lawyers added.
During a visit to Morocco last month, the UN special envoy on torture, Juan Mendez, highlighted the “very frequent” torture of detainees, which he said was particularly “cruel and systematic” in cases of national security.
Aarrass met Mendez during the Argentine rights expert’s week-long visit, his lawyers said.
Aarrass’s extradition to Morocco in December 2010 to face terrorism charges drew criticism from international rights groups at the time, and took place despite an interim request by the UN Human Rights Council asking Spain not to enforce it.
