Father of suspected terrorist searching for missing son
Source: RN
Published on : 11 November 2010
Moroccan terror suspect Saddek Sbaa travelled from the Netherlands to Morocco last week, but his family waited for him in vain at the Casablanca airport.
Last summer, 23-year-old Saddek Sbaa and three other men were arrested on charges of terrorism. The four had been detained by the Kenyan authorities near the Somalian border. Upon their return to the Netherlands, they were arrested on suspicion of attempting to reach terrorist training camps in Somalia.
Scenic route
Mr Sbaa’s lawyer Flip Schüller says that one year later the authorities still have not been able to prove their allegations. He argues that his client had been on a normal tour of Kenya. “He followed the scenic route, accompanied by a guide". The Dutch authorities rescinded his residence permit even though Mr Sbaa was never convicted. According to Mr Schüller the decision was prompted by the fact that the AIVD (Dutch national security service) had “classified Sbaa as a danger to national security.”
Judge
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service decided that the young Moroccan had to be deported. However, a court ordered the INS not to expel Mr Sbaa because of the substantial risk that he would be tortured if he returned to Morocco. He was also thought unlikely to receive a fair trial. Mr Sbaa was held in an immigration service detention centre pending a definitive ruling in his case. Last week, he decided to return to his native Morocco.
Moroccan human rights movement AMDH warned Mr Sbaa not to come to Morocco. AMDH-spokesperson Mohammed al-Boukili says: “We explained to him that there was a risk he would not receive a fair trial in Morocco.”
Report
Mr Sbaa ignored the warning and boarded a plane to Casablanca, but failed to meet his relatives who were waiting for him there. His relatives sought contact with AMDH: “The family say they checked with the authorities at the Casablanca airport, who initially said he was in their custody. However, they later denied having any knowledge of his whereabouts.” Mr Sbaa’s father has filed a missing persons report, and asked AMDH for assistance in tracking down his son.
Fair trial
Mohammed al-Boukili suspects Mr Sbaa was detained for questioning by the security services immediately he arrived in Morocco. 'What is important to us in such a situation, is that he is being treated humanely and receives a fair trial if indicted.”
“However, the conditions for a fair trial have already been violated now that he is being held in a secret location where he is unable to make contact with his lawyer in the Netherlands or his relatives in Morocco.”
Last summer, 23-year-old Saddek Sbaa and three other men were arrested on charges of terrorism. The four had been detained by the Kenyan authorities near the Somalian border. Upon their return to the Netherlands, they were arrested on suspicion of attempting to reach terrorist training camps in Somalia.
Scenic route
Mr Sbaa’s lawyer Flip Schüller says that one year later the authorities still have not been able to prove their allegations. He argues that his client had been on a normal tour of Kenya. “He followed the scenic route, accompanied by a guide". The Dutch authorities rescinded his residence permit even though Mr Sbaa was never convicted. According to Mr Schüller the decision was prompted by the fact that the AIVD (Dutch national security service) had “classified Sbaa as a danger to national security.”
Judge
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service decided that the young Moroccan had to be deported. However, a court ordered the INS not to expel Mr Sbaa because of the substantial risk that he would be tortured if he returned to Morocco. He was also thought unlikely to receive a fair trial. Mr Sbaa was held in an immigration service detention centre pending a definitive ruling in his case. Last week, he decided to return to his native Morocco.
Moroccan human rights movement AMDH warned Mr Sbaa not to come to Morocco. AMDH-spokesperson Mohammed al-Boukili says: “We explained to him that there was a risk he would not receive a fair trial in Morocco.”
Report
Mr Sbaa ignored the warning and boarded a plane to Casablanca, but failed to meet his relatives who were waiting for him there. His relatives sought contact with AMDH: “The family say they checked with the authorities at the Casablanca airport, who initially said he was in their custody. However, they later denied having any knowledge of his whereabouts.” Mr Sbaa’s father has filed a missing persons report, and asked AMDH for assistance in tracking down his son.
Fair trial
Mohammed al-Boukili suspects Mr Sbaa was detained for questioning by the security services immediately he arrived in Morocco. 'What is important to us in such a situation, is that he is being treated humanely and receives a fair trial if indicted.”
“However, the conditions for a fair trial have already been violated now that he is being held in a secret location where he is unable to make contact with his lawyer in the Netherlands or his relatives in Morocco.”
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