Alleged Moroccan Lobbyist Sues Belgium at ECHR Over Espionage Expulsion

At the age of 32, this Moroccan woman accuses Belgium of having not only "illegally deprived her of liberty" but also of having had her detained "without a decision justifying this detention". Despite several court rulings in her favor, Kaoutar Fal had been detained for 7 weeks between May 23 and July 23 last year before her final expulsion to Morocco.

Rejecting the term "spy", she nevertheless acknowledges having played a role as an "influential woman" and "lobbyist" for the benefit of Morocco, a profession which, according to her, is practiced in many countries around the world without causing any problems. It was under the guise of a businesswoman, president of several associations and conferences that she played the role of "spy" for the benefit of the Moroccan intelligence services, the Belgian authorities accused her.

Kaoutar Fal was detained at the 127 bis closed center in Steenokkerzeel (Flemish Brabant) before being released by the courts, considering that her placement was illegal. Arrested again, she had finally been expelled to Morocco on July 23. Since that date, she has not set foot in Belgium.

As in such situations, the Moroccan authorities have never reacted or contested this expulsion.