1. Morocco Heightens Counterterrorism Measures
by Sofie Tapia
Rabat, Morocco- Two armed guards in crisp green uniforms, accompanied by a police officer,
stand stoically on a city street in Rabat, Morocco’s capital. Only a short walk away stands an
identical trio. Morocco has been in a state of high alert since last year and has fallen under
President Obama’s counterterrorism initiative.
“Today, as part of this effort, I am calling on Congress to support a new Counterterrorism
Partnership Fund of up to $5 billion…” Said Obama in an announcement last May.
Morocco received $1.7 million from USAID last year allotted to Counterterrorism measures.
This year the government instated the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations.
Despite aid from partnering countries and heightened security measures Morocco is still
grappling with handling their pre-emptive fight against terror.
The amount of citizens arrested for terrorism related activity doubled from the previous year,
spurring action from the government. January 26th of this year Morocco passed an amendment
to their current terrorism law. The amendment raised the prison sentence to up to 15 years for
anyone charged for terrorism-related activities along with heavy fines.
This response falls in with a resolution passed by the U.N Security Council in September. Within
the resolution it states “…all States shall ensure that their domestic laws and regulations establish
serious criminal offenses…” referring to acts in line with terrorism.
The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations which has already dismantled over 130 cells, and
arrested 2,720 suspects, but can Morocco continue to maintain this strategy of dealing with rising
threats.
Dalia Ghanem Yazbeck, a research analyst at Carnegie Middle East Center, thinks that if
anything heightened arrests will only feed the problem. “What is certain is that prison will
undoubtedly contribute to radicalizing these individuals a little bit more.” Said Yazbeck Prison
gives way to another breeding ground for jihadist thought. Prisoners arrested for non terrorism
related charges will be exposed to people preaching radical jihadist ideals. She feels the solution
lays in de-radicalization and awareness programs.
The Moroccan government, however, is not letting up on its strategy of tightening up security. In
March Tunisia witnessed terrorist attacks on the Bardo National Museum. Confirming paranoia
in North African countries like Morocco.

2. In a meeting of the U.N Security Council this April they discussed the role of youth in the fight
against extremism. According the international strategic consultancy organization, the Soufan
Group based in New York, the age bracket of foreign fighters to be between 18 and 29. During
the U.N discussion Anthropologist Mr. Scott Atran described Al-Qaida and ISIS as the “largest,
most potent extraterritorial fighting force since the Second World War.” He went on to discuss
how diagnosing the threat of terrorism without understanding the root causes would lead to
failure. “When, as now, the focus is on military solutions and police interdiction matters have
already gone too far, If that focus remains, we may lose the coming generation.” Said Atran.
Atran is alone in his theories that military intervention isn’t the cure. “The Security approach is
not helping in eradicating this phenomenon,” said Mohammed Hakiki executive director of the
Karama Human Rights Forum an organization dealing with issues concerning human rights. “the
society should try and involve these people by giving them work and indemnities like the
approach used by United Arab Emirates to incite their citizens to leave the Islamic state.”
As the Moroccan government continues military based crackdowns they are failing to appeal to
the generation they are losing to Islamic extremist organizations. Crown Prince Al Hussein bin
Abdullah II of Jordan expressed how governments needed to incorporate young people into the
social landscape during the April U.N address to the Security Council. The young prince does
not agree with the belief that the younger generation is marginalized but are targeted.
“They are targeted for their huge self-confidence and potential ability to change the
world. With that drive, they look for opportunities to invest their potential, but when they face a
dead-end, their ambition is transformed into frustration, which other groups use to fuel their own
agendas.” He said.
Protests in Morocco’s capital of Rabat are a common occurrence. Organized groups shout
through megaphones and hold up signs displaying their grievances. Always with guards standing
around making to sure things don’t get out of hand. Lack of jobs for youth is not a new problem
in Morocco, but security measures are on the top of the government roster and young people are
seeking new opportunities
“It’s one new opportunity for desperate youth in the region,” said researcher at Carnegie Middle
East Center Mohammed Masbah. “You can give the example of the creation of the United States
in the 16th century when the puritans had been repressed in Great Britian and they left to the
‘promised land’... to a new land.” For these disenfranchised youth the idea of the Islamic State is
their ‘promised land.’
There is no single solution of how to handle Morocco’s increasing numbers of foreign fighters.
Masbah says it is too early to measure how the new amendment will affect recruitment of foreign
fighters, but those seeking to join the Islamic State will find ways.“You cannot eradicate this
phenomenon but you can manage it,” he says.

3. An estimated 1500 Moroccans have joined the Islamic State making Morocco third on the list of
foreign fighters joining ISIS, according the international strategic consultants, the Soufan
Group.
Management of this issue will remain a top priority for Moroccan authorities, but experts believe
they are skirting real solutions to this ongoing issue. “Missiles may kill terrorists, but good
governance kills terrorism,” said Secretary-General of the U.N Ban Ki-moon addressing the
Security Council past fall.