Morocco Jails Dual French National for 'Supporting Terrorism'

A French-Moroccan youth has been jailed for two years for "advocating terrorism" by flying what looked liked the black flag of the Islamic State jihadist group, a news website said Friday

Abdelmalik el-Makrini, 18, was on holiday in Morocco when he was arrested in August for flying a flag on which is written "There is no god but God, and Mohammed is his prophet," the Tel Quel site said.

The IS banner carries the first half of what is the Muslim testament of faith, written in white, and a white circle with the words "God, Messenger, Mohammed" said to have been the Prophet Mohammed's seal.

The youth, who normally lives in northern France, disputed the claim that this flag was being used to rally people to the jihadist group, which has proclaimed an Islamic "caliphate" in territory it controls in Iraq and Syria.

His family pointed out that these flags are freely sold in France and carried during marches and sit-ins.

Tel Quel quoted Makrini's lawyer, Mohamed Kotaya, as saying he would appeal the verdict, handed down Thursday in Sale, near Rabat.

Moroccan news agency MAP said another 12 people had also been tried on terrorism-related charges in Sale.

One of them, accused of joining IS to take part in jihad, was jailed for four years for having formed a group to carry out terrorist acts.

Rabat is deeply concerned about the more than 2,000 Moroccans, including those with dual nationality, that have joined such groups as IS.

In September, the government approved a draft law to tighten anti-terrorist legislation, aimed particularly at stopping people from joining jihadist groups.

Last month, it beefed up security measures against what it called the "serious terrorist threat."

Earlier this month, police arrested five people in the southern city of Marrakesh on suspicion of seeking to join jihadists in Iraq and Syria and of aiding terrorist activities.