The trial of Amina Morad and Benasser Ismaïni , the two activists of the Association for Defending of microcredit Victims was held on Tuesday 11^th February 11, 2014 under a heavy police presence.

At 9:30 am, the judge, came especially from Rabat the capital, quickly pronounced the verdict and called one year in prison and a fine of 30,000 MAD each and 10,000 MAD as compensation for microcredit organization INMAA.

Many Microcredit Victims came demonstrated early this morning before the Court of Ouarzazate , showing their solidarity with their leaders.

Amina Morad and Benasser Ismaïni have 10 days to appeal against this unjust judgment:

While witnesses are not presented and the lawyer of INMAA, the microcredit organization that had filed a complaint, did not appear in court during the 28^th January session.

While defense lawyers presented evidence of abuses and excesses of the microcredit system (especially as regards the usurers interest rates that are charged )

While testimonies from microcredit’s victims multiply and the movement against the abuse of microcredit organizations grows in several regions,

This ruling with many flaws comes to shows how “Justice” defends banking organizations that are above the laws and aggravate the poverty of their so-called “beneficiaries” and condemns the victims and their supporters.

There is no doubt with so heavily condemning of Amina and Benasser the “under order” justice aims to scare victims and break their movement.

We call for a wider national and international solidarity for justice for Amina and Benasser and all microcredit’s victims, and to publicize abuses microcredit organizations and the struggle of their victims :

– For outright acquittal of Amina Morad and Benasser Ismaïni

Reminder: four microcredit organizations who had complained against Amina Morad and Benasser Ismaïni for fraud , defamation and threats had withdrawn their complaint and two activists were cleared at the trial in the first instance. But a new organization, INMAA linked to the NGO AMSED and “Planet Finance” has raised the matter on appeal. The Prosecutor had requested the maximum sentence: five years in prison for Amina Morad and Benasser Ismaïni in the Court of Appeal in Ouarzazate at the 3^rd session of the trial on the 12^th November 2013.

ATTAC / CADTM MOROCCO
February 11, 2014