Home > Morocco > Moroccan Salafist Leader Jailed for Inciting Hatred Over Mosque Closures (…)
Moroccan Salafist Leader Jailed for Inciting Hatred Over Mosque Closures Amid Pandemic
Sunday 22 March 2020, by
Prosecuted while in custody, the Salafist Abou Naim has been incarcerated since this Friday in the local Oukacha prison for incitement to hatred and violence, according to a decision by the King’s Prosecutor at the Court of First Instance of Ain Sbaâ.
The defendant was arrested on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 because of his criticism of the closure of mosques, decided by the government to counter the spread of the coronavirus.
In a provocative and widely circulated video on social media, the Salafist had made "inciting hatred and threatening remarks towards citizens".
His remarks were also considered as threats "undermining public order" and an "excommunication of the State and its institutions", according to a statement from the DGSN (General Directorate of National Security).
It should be noted that during his arrest, the defendant had been placed in custody for the purposes of the investigation.