The May 16, 2003 terrorist attack in Casablanca, which killed more than 45 people, represents the starting point of the confrontation between the kingdom and the Islamic terrorist organizations in Morocco. However, it seems that the bulk of the Moroccan jihadists were rank and file ISIS members. Battle-tested jihadists from MoroccoMorocco considers all those returnees to have joined terrorist organizations and, as such, to be potential and suspected terrorists. These are centers for recruitment and training, which enjoy Algeria’s sponsorship as it refuses to cooperate with Morocco on jihadi terrorism. The kingdom has also revised its laws concerning terrorist activities to include even penalizing the intent of individuals to join terrorist cells and fighters outside Morocco’s borders.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 09, 2021 09:00 UTC