Judicial Developments in the Ait Jid Case in Fes, Morocco
On Thursday, October 22, 2026, the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal in Fes announced a postponement regarding the ruling in the high-profile case surrounding the murder of leftist student Mohamed Ben Issa Ait Jid. This case involves prominent Justice and Development Party member Abdelali Hamidine, whose fate remains uncertain as the court chose to delay its decision until the end of the session. This latest development surprised both the defense and the civil party's representatives, who were anticipating a verdict at the session's onset. The court had previously extended its deliberation period until today, prior to the announcement by Presiding Judge Izzar Arab Amzian confirming the delay.
The roots of this case trace back to violent incidents at Fes University in 1993, which resulted in the tragic death of Ait Jid. The court resumed discussions on the matter last week, acknowledging it as ready for deliberation despite the absence of the key witness and civil claimants. During the proceedings, Hamidine's defense team maintained procedural objections based on the principle of prior adjudication, arguing that the case lacked new evidence to warrant a retrial. These objections highlighted the lengthy judicial journey of this case, which has spanned over three decades.
In this context, attorney Omar Haloui outlined the key milestones of the case, starting from the events of 1993, through Hamidine's conviction in 1994 for involvement in a brawl that led to the student's death, to the public prosecutor's decision to dismiss complaints lodged by the civil party in 2012 and 2013 based on the principle of prior adjudication. Notably, the initial court of first instance had previously sentenced Hamidine to three years of active imprisonment, modifying the charges to participation in assault leading to death without intent, in connection with the murder of student Ait Jid.
As reported by ar.le360.ma.
