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Rabat – The Criminal Chamber of Salé Court of Appeal will issue its verdict in the Gdeim Izik trial case, in which 23 people are accused of having killed 11 Moroccan police in 2010, in late July.
According to media reports, the final phase is due to start on Tuesday. The defense of the families of the victims will respond to the pleadings made by the defense of the accused, contesting statements made by witnesses who recognized some of the 23 accused.
In October 2010, Moroccan police forces intervened to dismantle a protest camp outside the city of Laayoune in Western Sahara.
During the operation, 11 members of the Moroccan security forces were killed and their bodies desecrated by elements said to have connections with the Polisario Front.
The Public Prosecution said in June that the defendants had traveled to Algeria prior to settling the camps and had direct contact with Polisario leadership, who gave them money, logistics and instructions to commit violence and hold citizens as hostages inside the camp.
The crimes were documented by videos and pictures. The trial of the accused started in military court first where they were sentenced in February 2013 with long jail terms ranging from 20 years in prison to life in jail.
The trial was then referred to a civil court as part of the reforms of the Moroccan justice system.
As Moroccan media reported, the camp was first held by citizens in Laayoune to call for social demands such as employment and housing before it was infiltrated by the pro-Polisario elements.
