Swiss sentenced to 20 years in prison for Morocco murder
A security team is seen in December at the spot where the bodies of two Scandinavian tourists were found
Keystone
A Spanish-Swiss convert to Islam has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for “forming a terrorist group” in connection with the murder of two Scandinavian hikers in Morocco inspired by the ideology of Islamic State.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ts
The man, also accused of persuading people to join militant groups, has always claimed his innocence.
“This verdict is cruel and unacceptable. We’re going to appeal,” said his lawyer, regretting that the judges hadn’t taken into account “proof of his innocence”.
A second Swiss citizen had already been sentenced to ten years in prison in April for participation in a terrorist act, supporting terrorism and withholding information relating to a crime.
On Thursday a Moroccan antiterrorist court in Salé, near the capital Rabat, also sentenced three men to death. The first, a 25-year-old street vendor, confessed to organising the murder with two companions, a 27-year-old carpenter and a 33-year-old man who had filmed the scene.
Compensation
In December 2018 a 24-year-old Danish student and her friend, a 28-year-old Norwegian, were decapitated while camping on an isolated site in the High Atlas, a mountainous region in southern Morocco popular with hikers.
A group of 24 men suspected of being linked to these murders or belonging to a jihadist cell have been tried since the beginning of May in Morocco. The other 21 defendants received sentences ranging from five years in prison to life.
The court also sentenced the three men convicted of murder, as well as one of their accomplices, to pay two million dirhams (CHF206,000, $209,000) in compensation to the Norwegian girl’s parents. But the court rejected the family’s demand of ten million dirhams from the Moroccan state for its “moral responsibility”.
More
More
Swiss man sentenced in Morocco in double murder case
This content was published on
One of the two Swiss citizens arrested in Morocco in connection with the murder of two Scandinavian hikers has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Have you heard something about Swiss diplomacy that you’d like us to fact check?
Not all information circulating about Switzerland’s foreign relations is accurate or well understood. Tell us what you'd like us to fact check or clarify.
Swiss scientists discover unusual zones in Earth’s mantle
This content was published on
Using high-resolution models to study the Earth's mantle, scientists have identified zones of rocks in the lower mantle that are colder, or have a different composition, than surrounding rocks.
Egyptian diplomat’s murder: prosecutor calls for acquittal of defendant’s girlfriend
This content was published on
The Swiss attorney general has called for the girlfriend of the main defendant in the case of the assassination of an Egyptian diplomat in Geneva in 1995 to be acquitted. The woman is charged with complicity.
Low-cost e-tailers Temu and Shein put Swiss retail sector under pressure
This content was published on
Most Swiss retailers are concerned by the stiff competition from China's low-cost online platforms Temu and Shein, according to a survey.
This content was published on
More and more offices are standing empty in Switzerland's major cities. Nevertheless, new office constructions are likely to increase in the future, a study shows.
Zoos should consider culling surplus animals to regulate populations, say researchers
This content was published on
Researchers from the University of Zurich say zoos must rethink population management and allow animals to reproduce naturally - zoos should then cull surplus animals.
Swiss billionaire Martin Haefner creates foundation
This content was published on
Martin Haefner, owner of the car importer Amag and one of Switzerland's richest citizens, has set up a foundation with his wife Marianne.
Swiss army cuts uniform distribution to save millions
This content was published on
Members of the Swiss Armed Forces will only receive a distinctive grey dress uniform, the famous "Tenü A", for representational purposes in the future as a cost-cutting measure to save CHF55 million.
Swiss, Danish tourists among three dead in Australian plane crash
This content was published on
A light aircraft crashed during take-off from a tourist island in Western Australia, killing three people including Swiss and Danish tourists and injuring three others, authorities said on Wednesday.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.