Morocco salafist dismisses Aarrass’ torture allegations

RABAT- Salafist Abdelrazzak Soumah dismissed torture allegations of his former comrade Ali Aarrass in Morocco’s “Mujahideen” terrorist group in a video posted on social media.

Aarrass was released last year after serving a 12-year prison sentence for “belonging to a criminal gang for the purpose of preparing and committing terrorist acts, as part of a collective project aimed at seriously undermining public order.”

Aarrass’s claims of torture were made last April in a video posted online, prompting Moroccan authorities to order a medical probe to his allegations. Five doctors said they could find no evidence of torture or ill treatment.

Soumah, who was the fourth emir of the Mujahideen terrorist group, said that Arrass and fellow Salafist inmates were well treated in the prison.

“When I was arrested in 2012, I expected to be tortured. We all did, especially since I was the only one remaining founder of the movement,” said Soumah.

“However, I was surprised by how well they treated me and the other 20 brothers who were also arrested,” he said.

“There is no need to lie. All the proofs (of good treatment) are there,” he added.

Soumah accused Aarrass of lying and making up physical abuse and rape allegations.

“The investigators have all the details about our case, including time and day, place, communication and everything else,” he said.

Morocco was a victim of terror attacks in Casablanca in 2003 and Marrakech in 2011, which killed a total of 50 people and injured doz­ens.

King Mohammed VI the said in a speech after the Casablanca at­tacks that the strategy to fight ter­ror would be multifaceted.

The North African kingdom has since adopted a multidimensional strategy based on socio-economic and religious aspects besides security to combat terrorism and promoted an Islam of tolerance, especially among the youth across the country’s religious spectrum.