Extremists on hunger strike
2007-07-25 15:33
Rabat - Hundreds of jailed Muslim extremists in Morocco began a 48-hour hunger strike on Wednesday in support of 36 militants who have already gone longer than a week without food, an association in contact with them said.
"The hunger strike is being observed by 800 Islamist detainees in the prisons, and it will continue into Thursday," said Abderrahim Mahtade, the head of the Annassir association.
He added that some of the 36 prisoners who began the movement on July 16 were in a "critical condition and coughing up blood".
They began their hunger strike to demand transfers from Kenitra prison to prisons closer to their families.
All had been convicted of involvement in the near simultaneous suicide bombings in Rabat on May 16, 2003 which killed 45 people and injured scores of others. They were handed sentences ranging from 20 years behind bars to death.
Moroccan authorities arrested more than 2 000 suspected Islamic militants after the attacks.
A total of 1 087 received jail sentences of various lengths, while 56 got life terms and 17 were handed the death penalty, according to official figures.