Six Moroccan nationals previously detained in Somalia have returned to Morocco after more than two years in custody, according to their families and the Joint Committee for the Defense of Islamist Detainees.
The six men arrived in Morocco last week and were subsequently placed in police custody at the headquarters of the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations in Salé for questioning regarding the circumstances surrounding their detention in Somalia’s Puntland region.
Relatives said the men had previously been acquitted by Somali courts, but upon arrival at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca, they were taken into custody by Moroccan authorities as part of ongoing investigations.
In a statement, the families expressed gratitude to Moroccan authorities and all parties involved in securing the men’s return from what they described as harsh detention conditions abroad.
They said the repatriation reflects the state’s responsibility toward its citizens and called for further humanitarian consideration to bring the case to a close.
The families argued that the acquittals issued in Somalia, combined with the lengthy detention period and difficult prison conditions, should support their immediate release after questioning procedures are completed.
Abderrahim Ghazali, spokesperson for the Joint Committee for the Defense of Islamist Detainees, said the men’s return had been complicated by political conditions in Puntland despite their acquittal during the appeals stage.
He credited repeated advocacy efforts and Moroccan diplomatic intervention for facilitating their repatriation via connecting flights through Ethiopia and Egypt.
The committee praised Moroccan authorities for securing the men’s return and expressed hope they would be released once investigations conclude.
In early 2024, a Somali court sentenced the six Moroccans to death by firing squad after accusing them of attempting to destabilize Somali society and spread disorder in the country.
Those convictions were later overturned on appeal, resulting in their acquittal, according to their families and defense supporters.
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