Moroccan Citizen Arrested in Germany for Alleged Espionage on Opposition Activists
Suspect Accused of Spying on Hirak Rif Movement Supporters in Germany Under Moroccan Intelligence Orders.
Watan–The German authorities have arrested a Moroccan citizen suspected of involvement in espionage activities for Morocco’s external intelligence agency (DGED).
The suspect, who was extradited to Germany after being arrested in Spain, faces charges of monitoring activists of the “Hirak Rif” movement in Morocco.
According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Karlsruhe, which released the details on Thursday evening, the Moroccan citizen has been accused of engaging in espionage activities since at least January 2022. It is alleged that he collected information on members and supporters of the movement residing in Germany.
The Hirak Rif movement, which emerged in the Rif region in northern Morocco, advocates for social and political reforms and enjoys widespread support from the Moroccan diaspora abroad.
According to the German news outlet NTV, the suspect was arrested on December 1, 2024, in Spain under a European arrest warrant. Following legal procedures, he was extradited to Germany in January 2025. By order of the German Federal Court of Justice, the suspect was placed in pretrial detention to continue investigations. Upon his arrival at Frankfurt Airport on Thursday, an investigative judge at the Federal Supreme Court ordered his detention for further investigation into his collaboration with another suspect.
Investigations suggest that the suspect cooperated with an accomplice who had previously been arrested in November 2022 in the Cologne area of western Germany. The accomplice, who was later sentenced to one year and nine months of suspended imprisonment, had been tasked by the Moroccan intelligence agency with gathering information on the same opposition group. The investigations revealed that the suspects shared information about members of the movement and sent it to Moroccan intelligence officials.
According to the prosecution, the Moroccan intelligence agency provided material support to the suspects, covering travel expenses amounting to up to €5,000, part of which was allegedly used for personal purposes.
The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office in Germany, which handles cases of espionage, terrorism, and international law, is overseeing this case. Recently, the office has intensified efforts to track espionage activities on behalf of foreign states, including Morocco, China, Russia, and Turkey.
The Hirak Rif movement emerged in northern Morocco in 2016 following the tragic death of fish seller Mohcine Fikri. The movement demanded broad social and political reforms and gained notable traction among the Moroccan diaspora in Europe, making it a target for surveillance by Moroccan authorities.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the exposure of similar cases involving alleged agents working for foreign intelligence services from countries such as China, Russia, and Turkey.
This case is not only a security matter but also carries political and diplomatic implications that could impact future relations between Germany and Morocco.
