Moroccan Islamism. Between local participation and international Islamist networks of influence (original) (raw)

Morocco has been directly confronted with the violence of radical Islamist groups since the Casablanca attacks of 16 May 2003 and the Madrid bombings of 11 March 2004. As these attacks were carried out by Moroccan citizens, the idea of a 'Moroccan exception' -that is, a politically moderate Arab country with 'controlled Islamists' and the absence of political violence -was shattered to pieces. Since then Morocco has implemented diff erent policies trying to counter radicalisation and prevent violent terrorist attacks, while simultaneously trying to secure the pace of political reforms.