Morocco Confirms Death Sentence for Ex-Danish Citizen in 2003 Casablanca Terror Case

In an email, the Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration has informed that the Moroccan authorities have confirmed to Denmark the death sentence of Mr. Mansour in Morocco, and that the verdict has been appealed, reports the Ritzau news agency. Also, the Danish authorities are wondering whether the death penalty would be carried out. Since 1993, Morocco has had a moratorium on the non-execution of death sentences. The same source indicates that Denmark is in talks with the Moroccan authorities.

On the website of the public broadcaster DR, it is written that the defendant’s defense fears the execution of the death penalty. "This puts the Danish state in a rather unfortunate situation if we have indeed extradited a citizen to a country where he is sentenced to death," said his lawyer, Eigil Strand. At the request of Said Mansour’s family, he has taken up the case.

"The fact is that he has now received his verdict, but there is no guarantee that he will not be executed. It is the current government and those in power who have the competence to decide whether or not to execute the sentence," explained the lawyer. For him, the Danish state must get involved and clarify what really happened there. "And [determine] what possible guarantees you can now demand, on the Danish side, [to] ensure that Morocco does nothing that is contrary to what Denmark has committed to," added Mr. Strand.

Nicknamed the "bookseller of Brønshøj" because of his publications classified as "extremist", Said Mansour is accused of having planned a terrorist act against the UN summit in Copenhagen in 1995. He will be arrested and then released after the withdrawal of the charges against him. In 2004, the court sentences him to three months in prison. During a search of his home, the Danish intelligence service (PET) had seized a large number of videos, speeches and songs calling for Jihad.

A new search had been carried out at his home the following year. Material containing speeches by Al-Qaeda leaders, Abu Musab al Zarqawi and Abu Qutada, more than 3000 CDs, a third of which contained extremist Islamist content, were seized. He will be arrested, charged and detained for apology for terrorism. In 2007, a Copenhagen court sentences him to three years and six months in prison.

In 2014, a new conviction. He is sentenced to four years in prison for incitement to terrorism and holy war by the Frederiksberg court in Copenhagen. In 2016, the Supreme Court decides to withdraw his Danish nationality (a first in the country’s history) and extradite him to Morocco.