Belgium ordered to compensate convicted terrorist

Judges argued that the man didn’t have a fair trial as some of the evidence obtained may have been the result of torture in a Moroccan prison.

The terrorist was convicted by the Brussels court of appeal in 2006 and sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment. The court argued that the man worked for the terrorist organisation GICM (Groupe Islamique Combattant Marocain) that is linked to Al Qaeda. The GICM was probably involved in the attacks in Casablanca in 2003 and Madrid in 2004.

However, the ECHR now ruled that the man didn’t have a fair trial in 2005 and 2006 (picture), as the majority of the evidence was collected by the Moroccan authorities. Taking into accounts reports of the United Nations and NGO’s, judges concluded that there is a risk that the evidence might be the result of torture. The Belgian state was ordered to pay 5,000 euros in damages as a result.

The man who was convicted has already served his time in prison. He is living in Belgium as a free man. His lawyer has the intention of taking the case to the Belgian Court of Cassation to have a new trial.

[Flandersnews.be / Expatica]