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The trial
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| Nadia Yassine's trial postponed sine die | |
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| Submitted by the editorial staff, on June 28th ,2005 |
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| Subsequent to Nadia Yassine's prosecution and trial, presumably to be held on Tuesday, June 28th 2005, the Criminal Chamber in Rabat took an unprecedented step by adjourning the audition to an undetermined date, providing as justification : |
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| - Give time to the counsel to prepare their defense- Register the defense committee members by the criminal investigation police- Notify and summon witnesses |
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| The strange decision elicited a vehement denunciation from Nadia's legal representatives, who complained that they have not been properly heard in the first place. |
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| The Chamber violated the criminal procedure and the Law governing the Bar Association by commanding the attorneys to give a "written" statement ; in addition, the Chamber was cordoned off and tightly surveilled by the public authorities. Some members of Nadia's family, journalists and even members of the defense committee were interdicted from attending the session, which made the lawyers voice misgivings as to whether the conditions of a public hearing were observed. The Chamber responded positively to that without bothering to check. |
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| The drastic security measures caused some lawyers to attend the hearing belatedly, an hour later and more, and also caused a great discontent among the civilians. The latter lined up outside looking forward to attending the trial but were asked to leave shortly after the beginning of the proceedings by Mr Fathallah Arsalan [Justice and Spirituality Association's spokesperson] to prevent confrontation. |
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| The unusual conditions of this trial, indeed, are indicative of the confusion and predicament the regime in power put itself into when it attempted to prosecute the free and independent opinion. |
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