Six Moroccan nationals who had been detained in Somalia have returned to Morocco following over two years in custody, as confirmed by their families and the Joint Committee for the Defense of Islamist Detainees.
The six men arrived in Morocco last week and were placed in police custody at the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations in Salé for questioning about their detention circumstances in Somalia’s Puntland region.
Relatives stated that the men had been acquitted by Somali courts, but upon arrival at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca, Moroccan authorities took them into custody as part of ongoing investigations.
In a statement, the families thanked Moroccan authorities and all parties involved in securing the men’s return from what they described as harsh detention conditions abroad.
They noted that the repatriation demonstrates the state’s responsibility toward its citizens and called for further humanitarian consideration to resolve the case.
The families argued that the Somali acquittals, combined with the lengthy detention and difficult prison conditions, should lead to their immediate release after questioning.
Abderrahim Ghazali, spokesperson for the Joint Committee for the Defense of Islamist Detainees, explained that the men’s return faced challenges due to political conditions in Puntland despite their acquittal during the appeals stage.
He attributed their repatriation through connecting flights via Ethiopia and Egypt to persistent advocacy and Moroccan diplomatic intervention.
The committee commended 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, accusing them of attempting to destabilize Somali society and spread disorder in the country.
According to their families and defense supporters, those convictions were later overturned on appeal, resulting in their acquittal.