Rabat repatriated eight Moroccan nationals who were in conflict zones in Syria, the Interior Ministry announced on Sunday.
In a statement, the Ministry indicated that the humanitarian operation enabled the Moroccans to return to their country of origin safely.
This move is also part of Morocco's contribution to international efforts in the fight against terrorism as well as fulfilling its responsibility in protecting its citizens, the statement pointed out.
However, the Ministry asserted that the returnees will be the subject of judicial investigations for their alleged involvement in terror-related cases under the supervision of the public prosecution.
In 2015, Morocco adopted a law that criminalizes traveling to the world's conflict zones and terrorist training camps.
In accordance with the provisions of this law, which was issued after ISIS recruitment intensified in the country, the eight returnees will face prison sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years.
Head of Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) Abdelhak Khiame estimates 1,666 Moroccans joined ISIS in Syria, Iraq, and Libya. He indicated that many of them had been killed in suicide bombings in Syria and Iraq.
The BCIJ chief added that Moroccan intelligence has detailed information on each one of the suspects in conflict zones.
About 200 persons have returned to Morocco who were arrested by the authorities and put on trial in line with the terrorism law.
The latest repatriation process, prompted the “Association of Moroccans in Syria” to urge the authorities to look into the cases of what it called “Moroccan migrants” and settle them in a way that preserves their dignity.
The association pointed that it does not represent all Moroccans in Syria and is not affiliated with any particular party.
Its statement was signed by the association's president Adib Anwar and his deputy Yasin al-Ghazawi.
Similarly, a group of former defendants in terrorism cases, who have formed an association that defends the rights of extremists, demanded that the returnees from Syria not be prosecuted.
The association's spokesman, Abdel Rahim Ghazali, asserted that scholars and sheikhs who had issued a fatwa calling for fighting in the Levant are responsible for the departure of those fighters to Syria.
