Two dozen suspects are set to go on trial in Morocco today over the murder of two young Scandinavian hikers late last year that shocked the North African country. Three main defendants accused of direct involvement in the murders, who allegedly pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State jihadist group, could face the death penalty. The families of the two victims and their lawyers will not attend the trial, according to information obtained by AFP. A separate video in the initial aftermath of the murder showed the alleged killers pledging allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Petitions on the internet have called for anyone convicted of the double murder to face the death penalty.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 02, 2019 04:12 UTC