Syria

Articles

• Iran and Algeria Accused of Using Polisario Front as Proxy, Report Reveals
  14 April, by Sylvanus

  The report of a famous American newspaper highlights the closer collaboration between Algiers and the Iran-backed Hezbollah, using the Polisario Front to undermine not only Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Sahara, but also to interfere in Syria’s internal affairs.
  "Over the years, Iran has favored a wide range of proxy groups to advance its interests," states a Washington Post report. The newspaper relies on statements from a regional official and a third European (…)

• French Authorities Arrest 7 Terror Suspects in Brest Raid
  22 January 2020, by Sylvanus

  The Directorate General of Internal Security (DGSI) arrested, on Monday, January 20, seven individuals in Brest and in the Finistère department, as part of a judicial investigation for "criminal and terrorist conspiracy".
  The arrested persons, aged 28 to 38, are suspected of having prepared a project of violent action in France and a project of departure towards the Iraqi-Syrian zone, indicate judicial sources.
  Among them, there are men on the S file, who were under surveillance due to (…)

• Morocco Hosts Nearly 20,000 Refugees and Asylum Seekers, UNHCR Reports
  3 May 2022, by Ginette

  Morocco is hosting more and more refugees and asylum seekers, according to the latest statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Morocco.
  As of the end of March 2022, the number of refugees and asylum seekers stood at 19,620. Asylum seekers make up the largest share with 9,522 people. Syrian refugees constitute the largest community with 5,150 people, followed by Yemenis with 1,171 refugees.
  Similarly, according to UNHCR data, 62.7% of refugees are men, (…)

• Syrian Singer Badr Rami Seeks Moroccan Citizenship at Mawazine Festival
  23 June 2024, by Prince

  On the sidelines of his participation in the Mawazine festival, Syrian artist Badr Rami expressed his wish to obtain Moroccan nationality.
  During a press conference held on Saturday, Badr Rami implored King Mohammed VI to grant him Moroccan nationality, specifying that he was born and raised in Morocco.
  The Syrian artist expressed his admiration for Moroccan artists from the older generation such as Abdelhadi Belkhayat, Abdelwahab Doukkali and Brahim Alami, but also for rising stars (…)

• Belgian Lawyers Push for Repatriation of ISIS Fighters’ Children from Syria
  6 February 2020, by Sylvanus

  Abderrahim Lhlali and Mohamed Ozdemir, both lawyers for ten children of Islamic State fighters, have found a strategy to force the Belgian state to repatriate their clients. They have taken the resolution to send a bailiff to the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs.
  The taking of this resolution by the two lawyers is the logical consequence of an initial formal notice and the decision of the Brussels interim judge. On December 11, the Brussels Court of First Instance had asked the (…)

• Israel Seeks Billions in Compensation from Arab Nations for Expelled Jews
  2 January 2021, by Jérôme

  Morocco is one of the Arab countries to which the Israeli government intends to claim nearly $250 billion. This amount will be paid as compensation for the assets and property left by the Jews who left after the proclamation of the State of Israel.
  While the amount claimed from Morocco is not specified, the same goes for Syria, Egypt, Yemen and Iran. Tunisia must pay $35 billion, Libya $15 billion, according to information circulating in reports on the Israeli government, says the weekly (…)

• Belgian ISIS Fighter Captured in Turkey After Fleeing Syrian Prison Camp
  5 November 2019, by Sylvanus

  The Turkish offensive against the Kurds allowed a Belgian jihadist to escape from a prisoner camp in Syria. She will be arrested on November 1st in Turkey, in Kilis, on the border with Syria.
  Fatima Benmezian, 24, managed to escape from her Kurdish prisoner camp but was quickly arrested in Turkey, reports Het Laatste Nieuws.
  This Belgian Daesh fighter is originally from Borgerhout (Antwerp). She was being held prisoner in the Ain Issa camp, in northern Syria.
  As Turkey launched an (…)

• Renowned Moroccan Actor Hicham Ichaab Dies at 53 After Long Illness
  17 February 2023, by Ginette

  A major figure in television and theater in Morocco, the artist and actor Hicham Ichaab died on Thursday, February 16 at the CHU in Fez, following a long illness.
  He was one of the greatest figures on the Moroccan artistic scene. Hicham Ichaab was also known through several television productions such as "Wejaa Trab" by director Chafik Shimi, "Zinat Al Hayat" and "’iilaa al’abad" by Brahim Chkiri, "Hdidan", "Zhar o Mricha" and many others that made him a beloved artist among Moroccans. (…)

• Moroccan Grandmother Stranded in Syria After Failed Rescue of ISIS Grandchildren
  5 April 2019, by Kamal

  Originally from Fez, a 63-year-old grandmother found herself stuck in Syria, after going to rescue her five grandchildren.
  Latifa’s grandchildren remained stuck in Syria, after their father, a 42-year-old ISIS jihadist, was killed in 2015, writes the Huffpost citing the Spanish news agency EFE.
  "My son and his wife came to Syria without my permission. After seven or eight months, his wife called to tell me that he had died and asked me to come and get her and her children," Latifa told (…)

• Moroccan Brothers Arrested for Allegedly Funding Fighters in Syria and Iraq
  22 September 2019, by Sylvanus

  The National Brigade of the Judicial Police (BNPJ, in coordination with the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) (DGST), proceeded, on September 18 in Meknes, to the arrest of two brothers. They would be involved in the illegal transfer of funds to Moroccan fighters on the Syro-Iraqi scene.
  The continuous efforts made by the security services in monitoring suspicious funds and drying up the sources of terrorist financing are bearing fruit.
  Proof of this, an (…)