French Terror Suspect Released After Serving Time in Morocco and France

The man was released from prison last Thursday, according to consistent sources cited by the newspaper Var Matin, information confirmed by his lawyer Frank Berton. The latter accuses the Moroccan authorities of not wanting to acknowledge their mistakes. "The appeal trial was very long, we were convinced of obtaining an acquittal but the Moroccans did not want to acknowledge their mistake...", he said, recalling that his client was "accused of having given 70 euros to a roommate".

Thomas Gallay was initially sentenced to 6 months in prison, then to 4 years in prison on appeal. His case had then been at the center of a controversy between the two countries and former Justice Minister Christiane Taubira had even lent her support.

Things accelerated last summer when Thomas Gallay’s mother was received at the Elysée by President Emmanuel Macron, a gesture that was not well received by the Moroccan authorities. A few weeks later, the man was allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence in France.