The Court of Appeals in Fez, Morocco, has decided to postpone its ruling on the case concerning the death of leftist student Mohamed Bennis Ait Jid, a tragedy rooted in the violent events that unfolded at Fez University back in 1993. The case, which has drawn significant public attention, involves Abdalali Hamidiyin, a prominent member of the Justice and Development Party, and the court's decision has left both the defense team and the civil rights representatives surprised. This unexpected delay comes despite anticipations that a judgment would be announced following last week’s session, wherein the court had indicated that discussions were ready to conclude. However, presiding judge Azza Al-Arab Amzyan communicated to the defense that the verdict would be delivered at the closing of today’s session, without prior announcement at the start.
Last week, the court had extended its deliberations on the matter, assigning today as the date for the ruling, having previously deemed the case ready for discussion. During this time, the court listened to the defense's procedural objections presented by Hamidiyin’s legal team, despite the absence of the witness and the civil rights claimant. The defense's arguments primarily revolved around the issue of prior adjudication, asserting that the case had already undergone judicial proceedings that resulted in Hamidiyin's conviction in an earlier phase. They argued that no new facts justified a retrial for the same actions that had already been addressed.
In this context, attorney Omar Halwi recounted the various judicial stages the case has experienced since 1993, the year when the events leading to Mohamed Bennis Ait Jid's death occurred. This timeline includes the 1994 conviction of Hamidiyin for his role in a brawl that resulted in a fatality, as well as the years 2012 and 2013, during which the public prosecutor dismissed two complaints filed by the civil party based on the principle of prior adjudication.
This case, rooted in the violence that erupted at Fez University over three decades ago, has sparked ongoing debates in legal, human rights, and political circles due to its prolonged litigation history. The initial court chamber at the Court of Appeals in Fez, presided over by Judge Mohammed Lahya, previously sentenced Abdalali Hamidiyin to three years of effective imprisonment after reclassifying the charges against him to a felony of involvement in physical assault leading to death without intent.
Observers are keenly awaiting further developments in the case and the outcomes of the deliberations by the Court of Appeals, as this case has remained a significant part of public discourse since 1993, given its student and political backgrounds and the discussions it raises regarding the boundaries of retrials and the principle of prior adjudication in criminal cases.
As reported by fes24.com.
