Extradition of Ali Aarrass

Ali Aarrass’ sister, Farida Aarrass pictured with supporters

November 2010

The forced removal of Ali Aarrass, a dual Belgian-Moroccan national, from Spain to Morocco, is imminent – following the decision of the Spanish Council of Ministers on 19th November to approve Moroccos extradition request.

The Spanish National Criminal Court closed its investigation against Ali Aarrass in March 2009 on the basis of lack of evidence and no case against Ali Aarrass a citizen of Europe on terrorism-related charges has even been mounted in Spain (Amnesty International Document EUR41/004/2010).

While Ali Aarrass is accused by the Moroccan government of association with a terrorist network dubbed the Belliraj cell, a number of men from this cell who subsequently faced prosecution were reportedly tortured by the Moroccan intelligence services (Directorate for the Surveillance of the Territory) during incommunicado detention. Furthermore, the convictions of these men on appeal were marred by procedural irregularities and unexamined claims of torture and other ill-treatment. The Spanish government has knowledge of the routine practice of torture by the Moroccan intelligence service.