Maghreb Edition

Morocco: French national seeks UN help to fight extradition to US from MoroccoF

Posted On 29 December 2022

Number of times this article was read : 844

The lawyer of a Frenchman held in Morocco and fighting extradition to the United States for alleged hacking told AFP Wednesday he was appealing to a UN body to intervene. Philippe Ohayon, who represents 21-year-old Sebastien Raoult, said a prison guard had shown his client papers suggesting his extradition was imminent.

Ohayon said he had contacted the UN Committee against Torture asking them to oppose any transfer, because the body had blocked several extraditions approved by Morocco in recent years. “The Committee considers that Moroccan law does not allow sufficient control against the risk of inhuman and degrading treatment,” Ohayon said. The prison guard had notified and translated the extradition decree for his client, said the lawyer.

The authorities in France, Morocco and the United States would not confirm this information to AFP, but in August  Morocco’s supreme court gave preliminary approval to Raoult’s extradition. The final decision on his fate lies with  Morocco’s prime minister.

Raoult was arrested on May 31 in Tangier, in the north of the country, on the basis of a red notice, an arrest warrant issued by Interpol at Washington’s request. He was on the point of boarding a plane to France. The US authorities say Raoult is part of the ShinyHunters group of “cybercriminals”, suspected of having carried out cyberattacks against major companies including Microsoft. Raoult denies the accusation.

Ohayon said his client could face the rest of his life in a US jail if convicted there and on that basis the UN Committee against Torture should intervene. Despite the “116 years” that Raoult could face in a US jail, Rabat had not asked for any guarantees, he added. In his filing, Ohayon also requested that the authorities in Morocco suspend the extradition until the UN committee could declare its position.

AFP

Subscribe to Urgent Notifications and Newsletter

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Gulf War Escalates as Energy Markets Reel and Regional Fronts Multiply$

The war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States is expanding across the Middle East, with growing consequences for global energy markets and regional security. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure have pushed oil prices higher and raised concerns about supply stability. As missile exchanges intensify and fighting spreads to Lebanon, world leaders are scrambling to assess the economic fallout and prevent further escalation.

West Africa: Jihadist Attacks Intensify in Northern Benin Amid Cross-Border Insurgency Pressure$

Jihadist attacks in northern Benin have intensified in recent weeks, with militants linked to JNIM claiming a deadly assault on a military position near the Niger border and carrying out additional raids on security posts along the country’s volatile frontiers with Burkina Faso and Nigeria. The violence underscores how northern Benin has become part of a wider cross-border insurgency spilling south from the central Sahel, even as authorities bolster Operation Mirador and try to prevent armed groups from entrenching themselves on Beninese soil.

Desert Locusts Stir Fresh Worries in North-West Africa$

Small desert locust swarms recently detected along the western Sahara corridor have prompted stepped-up monitoring across parts of North and West Africa, where shifting rainfall can quickly turn quiet desert areas into launchpads for wider infestations.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.