Chakib el-Khayari got three years in the slammer for criticising Morocco’s loose anti-drug policy. Strangely enough, the court of Casablanca claims el-Khayari would have uttered his critique at the request of the Spanish secret services. In response, the Moroccan government kicked out two European observation posts in the war on terror. A clear message: don’t touch our hash, or we’ll be less than cooperative in the fight against terrorism.
Hash is big business in Morocco. And where there’s money involved, high government officials aren’t usually that far away. Although the Moroccan royal family wasn’t one to shy away from making some financial gain through drug-smuggling in the past, that policy seems to have been altered. Of course, as with many things in Morocco, change is mainly a matter of keeping up appearances.
A few months ago, a couple of high officials were arrested because of their involvement in drug trafficking to Spain. Shortly after, Riffian human rights activist and well-known opponent of the official hash-policy, Chakib el-Khayari, was detained as well.
According to El-Khayari, hash-trafficking is leading to higher crime-rates in all layers of society. He feels this problem should be dealt with in a serious matter, and smugglers shouldn’t be let off the hook. On top of that, he advocates the legalisation of hash. Because of his refreshing views and daring critiques, el-Khayari has often been invited to Europe as a spokesperson in the anti-drug debate. Matter of fact, he was in Spain when he got arrested.
Immediately after his arrest, the Moroccan Ministry for Foreign Affairs started spreading out rumours claiming that el-Khayari would have been paid by European governments to besmirch Morocco’s reputation. Hence the charges against El-Khayari: “offending the Moroccan government”.
Just last week, Chakib el-Khayari was sentenced to three years by the court of Casablanca. In his motivation of the conviction, the judge stated that the convict had declared to foreign media that the Moroccan government has a slack attitude in fighting drug trafficking.
But that wasn’t all. According to the court, El-Khayari would have made these accusations at the request of the Spanish secret service CNI (Centro Nacional de Inteligencia).
CNI has several offices in Morocco, which function as European watchtowers in the fight against terrorism. After El-Khayari’s conviction, the head of the CNI office in Nador was evicted, and the offices in Nador and Tetouan – both of primary importance in the war on terror - were closed.
In the meantime, the el-Khayari case has created some response in the rest world. Human Rights Watch has pronounced its concern on the unjust arrest of a whistleblower, which is only meant to silence him and intimidate others.
ENCOD, the European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policy, has sent a letter to the Moroccan king demanding the immediate release of Chakib el-Khayari.
Africa's last colonySince 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
Since 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
