The Thami Bennani Case: What the Most Mysterious Judicial File in Morocco Still Hides

For the Commission, the Thami Bennani file will remain etched as one of the most painful pages in the country’s judicial history. Since 2007, the date of the alleged kidnapping, murder and mutilation of the young man, no definitive answer has been provided as to the location of his remains. This unbearable silence has transformed the case into a perpetual suffering for the family, whose father died of grief and illness without being able to say goodbye to his son or know his fate.

The human rights body does not hesitate to mention "manipulations" aimed at stifling the truth. It points out that the procedure came close to being dismissed before being deliberately stifled for many years, fueling suspicions of a desire to protect the children of senior officials. The Commission denounces the mysterious disappearance of official documents, as well as the pressure exerted on the defense and witnesses, suggesting that justice has been obstructed to ensure the impunity of some.

The press release also raises macabre details that taint the investigation. The family would have been directed towards a false tomb containing, after examination, the body of a woman having no connection with the victim. Even more disturbing, reports would indicate that the victim’s clothes were washed by a doctor - a blatant violation of evidence preservation procedures - and questions remain about the disappearance of vital organs (heart, liver, kidneys), leaving the doubt about a possible trafficking or destruction of evidence.

Faced with these gray areas, the Commission demands a complete and courageous reopening of the case. It calls for clear answers on the responsibilities of each person in the concealment of the body and the destruction of evidence, stating that the Benanni case has become a mirror of the limits of influence over the law. The body warns that it will not remain silent until the dignity of the citizen and the rule of law are restored.