Maghreb Edition

Morocco: German court finds Moroccan spy guilty of spying on Moroccan rights activistsF

Posted On 31 August 2023

Number of times this article was read : 1299

A German court gave a Moroccan man a suspended sentence Thursday after finding him guilty of spying on supporters of a Moroccan protest group. The 36-year-old was given a suspended sentence of one year and nine months, a spokeswoman for the higher regional court in Duesseldorf said. He was also ordered to pay a 4,300 euros ($4,600) fine. The accused was arrested in the Cologne area last November.

According to federal prosecutors the man had worked for a Moroccan intelligence service, spying on members of the Hirak protest movement. He received airline tickets in return. The court found that the accused had passed on information about two German-Moroccans living in Germany.

In handing down the sentence, judges took into account that the accused had already spent nine months in pre-trial detention. Prosecutors had sought a prison term of two and a half years. The Al-Hirak al-Shaabi (“Popular Movement”) emerged in northern Morocco’s Rif region in 2016 following anger over the death of a fishmonger crushed by a bin lorry as he tried to recover swordfish seized by police. It sparked protests demanding development in the long-marginalised Berber region. The protests led to dozens of arrests.

AFP
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Algeria and Niger Restore Ties, Signaling a Shift in Sahel DiplomacyF

Algeria and Niger restored diplomatic relations after nearly a year of tensions triggered by regional security disputes. The return of ambassadors and a planned high-level visit signal renewed cooperation centered on energy development, border security, and regional trade. The rapprochement highlights the strategic importance of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and reflects broader efforts to stabilize partnerships across the Sahel amid ongoing security and economic pressures.

French Interior Minister Renews Dialogue with AlgeriaF

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s announced visit to Algiers marks a formal attempt to restart diplomatic engagement between France and Algeria after a period of strained relations. Discussions are expected to focus on security cooperation in the Sahel, the handling of deportation orders affecting Algerian nationals, and the case of imprisoned journalist Christophe Gleize. The visit takes place amid shifting regional dynamics, including Algeria’s growing role in Sahel security arrangements and recent signals of economic and political goodwill between the two countries.

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.