Algeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia: 

Response to Terrorism 

September 2015
This report is provided for reference purposes only. 

It does not constitute legal advice and does not represent the official 

opinion of the United States Government. The information provided 

reflects research undertaken as of the date of writing. 

It has not been updated.
Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia: Responses to Terrorism 

Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia: 

Responses to Terrorism 

SUMMARY Acts of terrorism committed on September 11, 2001, and subsequent international actions 

caused many countries, including Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia, to enhance their 

counterterrorism policies through amending existing or enacting new laws related to the 

criminal justice system. All three countries have adopted broad definitions of terrorism, 

raising concerns that they could include acts of political dissent within the ambit of acts of 

terrorism. At various points they have also adopted criminal procedure provisions that 

lowered certain restrictions for investigations of crimes labeled as crimes of terrorism, 

made the financing of terrorism a separate offense, and required all suspicious financial 

transactions to be subject to scrutiny by special financial units before they are referred to 

the competent criminal authorities. In addition, Morocco and Saudi Arabia recognize that 

there is a religious component to the acts of terrorism committed by many terrorist 

organizations. They proclaim to have established special programs to seek to address this 

element of terrorism by means other than the criminal justice system. 

I. Introduction

Following the September 11, 2001, attacks (9/11 attacks) perpetrated against the United States 

by al-Qaeda claiming to act in accordance with Islamic religious teachings and beliefs, many 

countries adopted or enhanced the already existing measures relating to combatting terrorism. 

On September 28, 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, the UN Security Council approved 

Resolution 13731under chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. This Resolution sets

up a general framework to combat terrorism, concentrating mainly on how to prevent and 

suppress the financing of terrorism and on changing governmental attitudes and behaviors 

towards the growing threat of terrorism. 

This report provides information about the counterterrorism measures adopted by three countries 

of the Middle East and North Africa region whose populations are either entirely or nearly all 

Muslims: Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and Morocco. 

1

 S.C. Res. 1373, U.N. Doc. S/RES/1373 (Sept. 28, 2001), http://www.un.org/en/sc/ctc/specialmeetings/2012/ 

docs/United%20Nations%20Security%20Council%20Resolution%201373%20%282001%29.pdf. 

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II. “Terrorism” Defined

UN Security Council Resolution 1373 calls on and requires all Member States to take necessary 

measures aimed at 

 Preventing and suppressing the financing of terrorist activities by criminalizing all acts

tending to provide for or facilitate such financing;

 Refraining from providing any assistance or support, passive or active, to persons or entities

involved in terrorist activities; and

 Enhancing cooperation among states through the exchange of information and other

measures to control and impede the movement of terrorists across international boundaries.

This Resolution does not provide a definition of what constitutes an act of terrorism, apparently 

leaving this task to each country to decide on its own. For example, United States federal law 

defines “terrorism” as any crime that appears to be intended to “intimidate or coerce a civilian 

population; to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or to affect the 

conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.”2

 In October 2012,

UN delegates from various countries called for increased international cooperation to “define 

terrorism and conclude a convention on the topic.”3

In Algeria, article 87bis of the Algerian Penal Code defines a “terrorist act” as any act targeting 

state security and national unity, territorial integrity, and the stability and normal functioning of 

institutions by any action whose objective is to 

 Spread terror among the population and create a climate of insecurity through moral

or physical assault on people, through exposing their lives, freedom, or security to

danger, or through damaging their properties;

 Obstruct traffic or freedom of movement on the roads and gather or sit in in public

spaces;

 Assault the symbols of the Nation and the Republic and unearth or desecrate graves;

 Assault the means of transportation and transport, the public and private properties,

and possess or occupy them without legal justification;

 Assault the environment or introduce into the atmosphere, into the earth or on its

face, or into the waters, including territorial waters, a substance that would expose

the health of humans or of animals, or the natural environment to danger;

 Obstruct the work of public authorities, the freedom of worship, the exercise of

public liberties, or the functioning of the establishments assisting public services;

2

 18 U.S.C. § 2331, http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2331. See also Definitions of Terrorism in the U.S. 

Code, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/terrorism/terrorism-definition

(last visited Sept. 18, 2014). 

3

 Press Release, U.N. General Assembly, Legal Committee Urges Conclusion of Draft Comprehensive Convention 

on International Terrorism, GA/L/3433 (Oct. 8, 2012), http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/gal3433.doc.htm. 

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Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia: Responses to Terrorism 

 Obstruct the functioning of public institutions, assault the lives or properties of their

representatives, or impede the implementation of laws and regulations.4

In Morocco, the determining factor in the definition of a “terrorist act” is whether there is an 

intention to seriously undermine public order. Article 218bis of the Penal Code stipulates that

[t]he following crimes shall constitute terrorist acts if they are intentionally related to 

individual or collective enterprise having the objective of gravely undermining the public 

order through intimidation, terror, or violence.5

In Saudi Arabia, article 1(a) of the Law Concerning Offenses of Terrorism and its Financing, 

issued on December 27, 2013, defines a terrorist crime as 

[a]ny act undertaken by the offender directly or indirectly in pursuance of an individual 

or collective criminal enterprise intended to disturb the public order, destabilize the 

security of society or the stability of the state, expose its national unity to danger, obstruct 

the implementation of the organic law or some of its provisions, harm the reputation of 

the state or its standing, endanger any of the state facilities or its natural resources, force 

any of its authorities to do or abstain from doing something, or threaten to carry out 

actions leading to any of the aforementioned objectives or encourage 

their accomplishment.6

The above definitions in the laws of Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and Morocco, while different, may 

each be seen as being so broad as to possibly include in the definition of terrorism all activities 

targeting a government or the political regime, even when such activities may involve legitimate 

political dissent or protest.7

 For example, a July 2014 article by Amnesty International reports

that the Specialized Criminal Court in Jeddah “invoked article 21 of Saudi Arabia’s repressive 

new anti-terrorism law” to convict and sentence a prominent Saudi Arabian lawyer and human 

rights defender, Waleed Abu al-Khair, to fifteen years in prison.8

 The article quotes the Deputy

Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Amnesty International as saying: 

Waleed Abu al-Khair’s conviction on charges relating to national security is entirely 

unjustified and provides alarming evidence that the Kingdom’s new anti-terrorism law is 

going to be used to repress peaceful political dissent.9

4

 Penal Code, art. 87bis, Order No. 66-156 of June 8, 1966, http://www.droit.mjustice.dz/legisl_nouveau/code_ 

penal_2010/ar/index.html?i=168 (in Arabic; translated by author, I.S.) (Alg.). 

5

 Penal Code, art. 218bis, Dahir 1-59-413 of 1962, http://adala.justice.gov.ma/production/legislation/ 

ar/Nouveautes/الجنائي20%القانون.pdf (in Arabic; translated by author, I.S.) (Morocco). 

6

 Law Concerning Offenses of Terrorism and its Financing art. 1(a), Royal Decree No. M/16 of 1935 Hijri, 

corresponding to December 27, 2013, http://boe.gov.sa/ViewSystemDetails.aspx?lang=ar&SystemID= 

327&VersionID=305 (in Arabic; translated by author, I.S.) (Saudi Arabia). 

7

 See, e.g., Morocco: Stop Using ‘Terrorism’ as a Pretext to Imprison Journalists, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL (May 

20, 2014), http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/morocco-stop-using-terrorism-pretext-imprison-journalists-2014-05-20; 

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, WORLD REPORT 2009: ALGERIA (Jan. 2009), http://www.hrw.org/world-report2009/algeria. 

8 New Anti-terror Law Used to Imprison Saudi Arabian Human Rights Activist, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL (July 7, 

2014), http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/new-anti-terror-law-used-imprison-saudi-arabian-human-rights-activist2014-07-07. 

9

Id.

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Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia: Responses to Terrorism 

III. Special Investigative Tools

As a part of strengthening their legal measures to counter terrorism, Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi 

Arabia have amended their existing laws or enacted new ones to give investigators, security 

forces, and the courts special powers when the criminal offenses are classified as terrorist crimes. 

The most significant of these changes are explained below. 

A. Algeria 

Algeria’s criminal procedure law imposes a number of restrictions on the criminal investigative 

process with regard to carrying out searches and time frames for detention. 

Under the law, investigators are prohibited from entering personal residences without a search 

warrant obtained from the competent judicial authority in the geographic area where the 

residence is located. Furthermore, no search is allowed to take place before 5:00 a.m. or after 

8:00 p.m., and the presence of the accused or his representative during the search is required.10

The law was amended in 1982 to lift these restrictions when the offense being investigated is 

classified as a terrorist act. This means that, where a terrorist crime is alleged, the search warrant 

does not need to be obtained from the local authority, with search warrants in relation to such 

offenses therefore executable anywhere in the nation and not limited to the geographic 

competency of the issuer;11 a search can take place any time during day or night;12 and the

presence of the accused or his representative is not a necessity during the search.13

With respect to temporary detention, an accused can be taken into custody during the 

investigative process under certain conditions for a period not to exceed forty-eight hours; but if 

the crime is classified as a terrorist act this period can be extended by up to twelve days.14

Under Algerian law, pretrial detention is allowed under certain strict conditions and limited to a 

period of four months, which can be renewed twice. However, when the offense is classified as 

a terrorist act the pretrial detention may be renewed five times and, if the crime is transnational 

in nature, as many terrorist acts are, the detention period may be renewed eleven times.15

10 Criminal Procedure Code, Order No. 155-66 of June 8, 1966, http://www.droit.mjustice.dz/portailarabe/legisl_ 

de_06_au08/code_proc_penale_modif_ar_06.pdf (in Arabic and French) (Alg.). 

11 Id. art. 44. 

12 Id. art. 47. 

13 Id, art. 45. 

14 Id. art. 51. 

15 Id. art. 125bis. 

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Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia: Responses to Terrorism 

B. Morocco 

As of 2011, Morocco had made several amendments to its Criminal Procedure Code,16 which

included granting investigators more powers when the crime being investigated is classified as a 

terrorist crime. The law now includes the following: 

 Investigators are authorized to seize any type of documents that may prove the commission

of a crime by searching the residence of those who have possession of such documents.

Normally, only the officer of the judicial police and specific other persons are allowed to see

these documents before deciding whether to seize them or not. However, this restriction does

not apply when the crime involved is a terrorist crime.17

 Normally, searches of residences cannot be conducted before 6:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.

When the crime being investigated is a terrorist crime these restrictions do not apply if

searches during these times are considered necessary.18

 Investigators may detain any persons who could be helpful for the investigation for a period

not to exceed forty-eight hours. In investigating terrorist crimes the period is ninety-six

hours, renewable for the same period twice.19

 Normally, entering and searching residences for the purpose of seizing evidence requires the

explicit approval of the owner of the residence. If the evidence relates to a terrorist crime

and the owner abstains from giving his approval the search can be conducted following a

written order of the general prosecutor.20

 Normally, only the investigative judge has the power to order the interception of telephonic

and other means of communications. This power is now extended to the General

Representative of the King when the matter relates to a terrorist crime.21

C. Saudi Arabia 

Saudi Arabia does not have a written, comprehensive penal code but asserts that it applies 

Sharia’ or Islamic law. In December 2001, in its first report to the Security Council Committee 

established pursuant to Resolution 1373 concerning counterterrorism, Saudi Arabia stipulated 

the following: 

In the Islamic Shariah, which the Kingdom applies and from which it derives its statutes, 

crimes of terrorism are included among the crimes of hirabah. The severest of penalties 

are applied to these crimes in the Islamic Shariah, as set forth in the Holy Koran [Koran 

16 Criminal Procedure Code, Dahir 1-58-261 of 1959, as amended to Oct. 27, 2011, http://adala.justice.gov.ma/ 

production/legislation/ar/Nouveautes/الجنائية20%المسطرة20%قانون.pdf (in Arabic) (Morocco). 

17 Id. art. 59. 

18 Id. art. 62.

19 Id. art. 66. 

20 Id. art. 79. 

21 Id. art. 108. 

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Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia: Responses to Terrorism 

5:33]. The crimes of hirabah include the killing and terrorization of innocent people, 

spreading evil on earth (al-ifsad fi al-ard), theft, looting and highway robbery.22

 

In its supplementary report, submitted to the Committee in July 2002, Saudi Arabia stipulated 

that financing of terrorism also falls into the crime of hirabah: 

For its statutes, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relies on Islamic law. The financing of 

terrorism falls into the category of “spreading evil on earth” (al-ifsad fi al-ard). This may 

incur the non-discretionary hadd penalty for hirabah (brigandage), which can sometimes 

mean the application of the death penalty.23

In December 2013, as referred to above, Saudi Arabia enacted the Law Concerning Crimes of 

Terrorism and its Financing. This Law gives the Minister of Interior the power to issue arrest 

warrants against those suspected of having committed terrorist crimes and to delegate this power 

as he sees fit according to guidelines he prescribes.24

Investigators may arrest and detain those accused of terrorist crimes for a period or periods not to 

exceed six months, renewable once for another six months. Any detention beyond the renewed 

period must be authorized by the Specialized Criminal Court.25 Apparently, the arrest warrants

issued by the Minister of Interior are not among those subject to the supervision of the 

Specialized Criminal Court. 

Apart from the right of the accused to inform his relatives of his arrest, investigators may 

prohibit any communications with the accused for a period not to exceed ninety days. Any 

prohibition beyond the ninety days must be referred to the Specialized Criminal Court for 

authorization.26

This new law gives the Minister of Interior judicial powers in the investigative phase of the 

crimes of terrorism unique among the legal systems of other countries. Among such powers are 

those that allow the Minister or his designee to 

 Enter homes and offices at any time for the purpose of searching them and arresting persons

accused of terrorist crimes;27

 Monitor letters, messages, publications, parcels, and other means of communication, as well

as telephone conversations, and confiscate or make copies thereof whether this is in relation

to a crime that has already been committed or may be committed;28 and

22 Report of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Submitted Pursuant to Paragraph 6 of Security Council Resolution 1373 

(2001) Concerning Counter-terrorism, at 5, U.N. Doc. S/2001/1294 (Dec. 26, 2001), http://www.un.org/en/sc/ctc/ 

resources/1373.html (scroll to Saudi Arabia). 

23 Report of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Response to the Comments Contained in the Letter Dated 18 April 

2002 from the Chairman of the Security Council Committee Established Pursuant to Resolution 1373 (2001) 

Concerning Counter-terrorism, at 4, U.N. Doc. S/2002/869 (July 10, 2002), http://www.un.org/en/sc/ctc/resources/ 

1373.html (scroll to Saudi Arabia). 

24 Law Concerning Offenses of Terrorism and its Financing art. 4 (Saudi Arabia). 

25 Id. art. 5. 

26 Id. art. 6. 

27 Id. art. 16. 

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Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia: Responses to Terrorism 

 Urgently order the temporary seizure for a period of three months, renewable for a similar

period or periods until the investigation is complete, property suspected of having been used

in terrorist crimes.29

The Minister of the Interior also has the discretionary power to order the release of detainees 

who are accused of a terrorist offense or persons convicted of such crimes during the execution 

of their sentences.30

IV. Financing of Terrorism

In accordance with the general principles of the criminal law in civil law jurisdictions, any 

person who assists in the commission of a crime, including by financing it, is normally 

considered a principal actor or participant in the crime he financed and is subject to the same 

penalty as those who personally commit the crime. 

In Algeria, for example, article 41 of the Penal Code states that actors of a crime include those 

who personally commit it and those who entice them to commit it through gifts (including 

certainly financing) or other means of enticements.31

In Morocco, article 129(1) of the Penal Code states that a participant in the commission of a 

crime includes anyone who encourages its commission through a gift.32 Article 130 provides

that a participant in the commission of a crime must be subject to the punishment assigned to the 

crime. 

As mentioned above, Saudi Arabia does not have a comprehensive written penal code. With 

regard to the existence of legal provisions aimed at suppressing the financing of terrorism, the 

Saudi government stated in its second letter to the UN Security Council Committee established 

pursuant to Resolution 1373 that the financing of terrorism falls into the category of “spreading 

evil on earth” (al-ifsad fi al-ard), which may incur the nondiscretionary hadd penalty 

for hirabah.

33

However, in response to more specific requirements to combat the financing of terrorism 

outlined in UN Resolution 1373, and in compliance with other UN decisions, the three countries 

have adopted specific legal provisions. 

In Algeria, the legislature made the financing of terrorism a separate crime independent from the 

terrorist act itself by providing in article 87bis(4) of the Penal Code that anyone who praises, 

encourages, or finances by any means acts of terrorism must be punished by five to ten years 

imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 to 500,000 Algerian dinars.34

28 Id. art. 17. 

29 Id. art. 18. 

30 Id. art. 24. 

31 Penal Code art. 41 (Alg.). 

32 Penal Code art. 129(1) (Morocco). 

33 U.N. Doc. S/2002/869, supra note 23, at 5. 

34 Penal Code art. 87bis (4) (Alg.). 

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Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia: Responses to Terrorism 

In addition, in 2005, Algeria enacted a special law to prevent money laundering and financing of 

terrorism, which makes all suspicious financial transactions subject to scrutiny.35 Article 15 of

this law requires that basically all financial and some other institutions refer to a special 

investigative unit, in the manner prescribed, any transactions suspected of involving the crime of 

financing of terrorism. If the special investigative unit finds reasons to believe that a crime was 

committed then it must refer its findings to the competent criminal legal authority.36

In 2011, Morocco added article 218(4) to its Penal Code, which makes the financing of terrorism 

a crime even if the act of terrorism itself did not take place. It stipulates that the following must 

be considered terrorist acts: 

The carrying out by any means, directly or indirectly, the offering, collection, or 

arranging the obtaining of funds, properties, or anything of value for the purpose of using 

them or with the knowledge that they will be used in full or in part to commit a terrorist 

act whether such act takes place or not.37

Morocco also has an anti-money-laundering law38 and a special administrative unit39 to monitor

financial transactions that might involve money laundering or terrorism financing. This unit 

follows the global standard set up by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for anti-money 

laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). One of the major tasks of this 

unit, pursuant to article 18 of the law, is to refer to the competent judicial authorities for 

investigation and prosecution any financial transactions suspected of being related to the 

financing of terrorism. 

In Saudi Arabia, article 1(a) of the 2013 Law Concerning Offenses of Terrorism and its 

Financing40 adopts for the offense of financing of terrorism the same definition adopted by the

International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.41

Saudi Arabia also enacted an Anti-Money Laundering Law in April 2012, and issued its 

implementing instructions. 42 Pursuant to article 9 of this Law any suspicious financial

transactions involving the financing of terrorism has to be referred to the special investigative 

35 Law on the Prevention and Control of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, Law No. 05-01of 1425 Hijri, 

corresponding to 2005, http://www.droit.mjustice.dz/loi_prevent_lutte_blanchim_argent_financem_terrorisme.pdf

(in Arabic and French) (Algeria). 

36 Id. art. 16. 

37 Penal Code art. 218(4) (Morocco). 

38 Anti-Money-Laundering Law, Dahir 1-07-79 of 2007, http://www.marocdroit.com/-األموال-غسل-بمكافحة-المتعلق-القانون

بالمغرب_a64.html (in Arabic) (Morocco). 

39 This unit was created pursuant to article 14 of the Anti-Money-Laundering Law by Ministerial Decree No. 2-08-

572 of 2008, BULLETIN OFFICIEL No. 5700 of Dec. 24, 2009. 

40 Law Concerning Offenses of Terrorism and its Financing art. 1(a) (Saudi Arabia). 

41 International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, Dec. 9, 1999, 2178 U.N.T.S. 197, 

https://treaties.un.org/doc/db/Terrorism/english-18-11.pdf. 

42 Anti-Money Laundering Law, Royal Decree M31 of 5/11/1433 Hijri, corresponding to Apr. 3, 2012 (Saudi 

Arabia). Both the Law and its Implementing Instructions are available on the website of the Saudi Arabia AntiMoney Laundering Committee, at http://www.sama.gov.sa/MoneyLaundry/DocLib1/ غسل مكافحة لنظام التنفيذية الالئحة

األموال.pdf (in Arabic). An English translation of the Law is available on the same site, at http://www.sama.gov. 

sa/sites/samaen/RulesRegulation/BankingSystem/Pages/anti_money_laundering_%28aml%29_law_ar_en.pdf.

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Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia: Responses to Terrorism 

unit, which will decide if there is enough evidence to refer the matter to the competent criminal 

authority. 

V. Religious Element of Terrorism 

Arguably, an effective counterterrorism policy also seeks to address the religious motivational 

element involved in acts of terrorism. The prohibitions of the criminal justice system do not 

necessarily change in the mind of potential terrorists what they believe is a divine command 

calling on them to fight the nonbelievers, meaning non-Muslims. Morocco and Saudi Arabia 

have apparently realized the importance of dealing with this religious element of terrorism by 

means other than the criminal justice system. 

In its supplementary report of October 13, 2004, Morocco informed the United Nations CounterTerrorism Committee of the acceleration of in-depth educational, religious, and cultural reforms 

as part of its counterterrorism strategy, asserting that 

[m]ajor reforms have been carried out with respect to religious activity, in an effort to 

protect Morocco from any stirrings of extremism and terrorism.43

Similarly, in a paper dated November 2012, Saudi Arabia outlined three prongs of policy to 

counter terrorism.44 One of these prongs is concerned with changing the mindset of potential

terrorists to overcome extremism, described as follows in the paper: 

This approach constitutes a “war of ideas,” which aims to instill the concepts of 

moderation and tolerance, and to undermine any justifications for extremism and 

terrorism on an intellectual level.45

The Saudi Government appears to identify religious schools and religious teaching as a source of 

extremism by stating that this approach extends “to Saudi religious schools” and that

Imams have been prohibited from incitement and talk of intolerance, and the Ministry of 

Islamic Affairs is conducting a program to educate imams and monitor mosques and 

religious education to purge extremism and intolerance.46

It is possible that such measures in both Morocco and Saudi Arabia could be more effective in 

changing minds and beliefs than the prohibitions contained in the criminal laws. However, no 

specific information was located about the substance or content of these measures and programs 

intended to instill moderation and tolerance among extremists or potential terrorists. 

43 Supplementary Report of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Security Council Committee Established Pursuant to 

Resolution 1373 (2001), at 5, U.N. Doc. S/2004/826 (Oct. 13, 2004), http://www.un.org/en/sc/ctc/resources/ 

1373.html (scroll to Morocco). 

44 THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, INITIATIVES AND ACTIONS TO COMBAT TERRORISM (Nov. 2012), available on 

the website of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Washington, DC, at http://www.saudiembassy.net/files/PDF/ 

Reports/Counterterrorism.pdf. 

45 Id. at 5. 

46 Id. 

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VI. Non-legal Response to Terrorism

Arguably, an effective counterterrorism policy also seeks to address the religious motivational 

element involved in acts of terrorism. The prohibitions of the criminal justice system do not 

necessarily change in the mind of potential terrorists what they believe is a divine command 

calling on them to fight the nonbelievers, meaning non-Muslims. Morocco and Saudi Arabia 

have apparently realized the importance of dealing with this religious element of terrorism.

For several years the governments of Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Algeria have been adopting 

policies designed to prevent and protect against the threat of terrorism other than through the 

legal system per se. These policies focus on enhancing the capabilities of security forces and on 

trying to deal with certain religious ideas that play a role in formulating the mindset of terrorists. 

A. Saudi Arabia 

In a 2012 report explaining its policies in this regard, the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi 

Arabia points to the following programs and actions taken to enhance the performance of its 

security agencies in matters related to terrorism:47

1. Restructuring the operations of the Ministry of Interior, under whose authority the security

forces operate, in order to prevent terrorist attacks and better address the dismantling of the

“physical presence of Al-Qaeda” in the Kingdom;48

2. Maintaining rigorous standards for the security forces through continuing training and

participation in joint programs throughout the world, “including in Europe and the

United States”;49

3. Conducting joint missions and exchanging information;50

4. Deployment of new technologies to complement the “sophistication of Saudi Arabia’s human

resources”;51 and

5. Engaging neighborhood community members to work directly with the police and

encouraging them to provide “tips and leads about suspicious activity.”52

With respect to the activities targeted at addressing the religious element of terrorism, the Saudi 

Government has adopted what it calls “soft” counterterrorism policies. In explaining this 

approach the report states the following: 

47 THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, INITIATIVES AND ACTIONS TO COMBAT TERRORISM (Nov. 2012), 

http://www.saudiembassy.net/files/PDF/Reports/Counterterrorism.pdf.

48 Id. at 3. 

49 Id. 

50 Id. 

51 Id. 

52 Id. 

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This approach constitutes a “war of ideas,” which aims to instill the concepts of 

moderation and tolerance, and to undermine any justifications for extremism and 

terrorism on an intellectual level. In doing so, Saudi Arabia is protecting vulnerable 

groups, such as youth, and any potentially disenfranchised elements of society.53

The Government points to a number of initiatives implemented in this regard, including a 

“public awareness campaign,” “public and religious education,” “counter-radicalization 

program,” and “rehabilitation program.” In explaining the framework of these programs, the 

Government was candid in acknowledging the role of religious functionaries in cultivating an 

atmosphere of intolerance and extremism by stipulating that, through these programs, 

Imams have been prohibited from incitement and talk of intolerance, and the Ministry of 

Islamic Affairs is conducting a program to educate imams and monitor mosques and 

religious education to purge extremism and intolerance.54

We note, however, that the Government faces various challenges in this area as the religious 

establishment in Saudi Arabia preaches a version of Islam that does not tolerate others. For 

example, the official teaching considers attending a Christian celebration or festivity a “sin and 

transgression”55 and describes the Sufis, who are a part of the Muslim community pursuant to

the teaching of all traditional schools of Islamic thought, as a “misguided group” with whom “it 

is not permissible to keep company” or “befriend them.”56

According to a lengthy, two-part report published on a website under the auspices of the Saudi 

Ministry of Islamic Affairs and attributed to a spokesman of the Saudi Ministry of Interior, the 

number of detainees for terrorist crimes as of April 2013, had reached 2,772 persons, who have 

been referred to the competent judicial authorities.57 Another report, published on the website of

the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, contains general political statements such as “the 

Kingdom has responded to the acts of violence and terrorism locally and internationally by 

fighting them locally and denouncing them internationally and proving to the whole world its 

seriousness in countering terrorism.” 58 However, neither report describes judicial policies

regarding terrorism cases or the approach to implementing legal and non-legal responses 

to terrorism. 

53 Id. at 5. 

54 Id. at 6. 

55 Ruling on Attending Festivities of Christians, GENERAL PRESIDENCY OF SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND IFTA’, 

http://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/FatawaDetails.aspx?languagename=en&View=Page&PageID=513&PageNo=1&Book

ID=7 (last visited Feb. 23, 2015). 

56 Sufism, GENERAL PRESIDENCY OF SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND IFTA’, http://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/Fatawa 

Chapters.aspx?languagename=en&View=Page&PageID=14&PageNo=1&BookID=24 (last visited Feb. 23, 2015). 

57 TRIAL OF THE DEVIANT GROUP IN SAUDI ARABIA, 1ST PART (Apr. 1, 2013), http://www.assakina.com/news/23389. 

html and 2ND PART (Feb. 25, 2015), http://www.assakina.com/news/64284.html (in Arabic). 

58 The Strategy of the Kingdom in Fighting Terrorism Locally, Regionally, and Internationally, MINISTRY OF 

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, http://www.mofa.gov.sa/ServicesAndInformation/news/GovernmentNews/Pages/g9r.aspx (last 

updated Oct. 9, 2013) (in Arabic).

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Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia: Responses to Terrorism 

B. Morocco 

In its 2013 Country Reports on Terrorism, the US Department of State stated that Morocco has 

“a comprehensive counterterrorism strategy that includes vigilant security measures, regional 

and international cooperation, and counter-radicalization policies.”59 The report indicated that

Morocco pursues various programs aimed at improving the performance of its security forces in 

combating terrorism, including the following: 

1. Participation in the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program, which

provided the Moroccan Department of National Security (DGSN) and the Royal

Gendarmerie with training in cyberforensics, crime-scene forensics, and executive leadership;

2. Participation in Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) and US Department of Justice

programs to improve technical investigative training for police and prosecutors;

3. Participation in a number of multilateral training and operation exercises, which according to

the State Department “have enhanced border security and improved capabilities to counter

illicit traffic and terrorism”; and

4. Counterterrorism actions taken by the Moroccan security forces, which appear to have been

successful to the extent that Morocco seeks to play a prominent role, with the blessing of the

State Department, in the training of its neighbors in North and West Africa.

According to a news article dated March 2015, the Moroccan government has announced the 

creation of a “Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation” whose objective is to confront security 

challenges, including terrorism.60 The same report states that the number of criminal cases

classified as terrorism cases in Morocco in 2014 was 147, up from 64 in 2013. These cases 

involved 323 people in 2014, compared to 138 in 2013. 

Previously, a news report in October 2014 stated that the Moroccan Minister of Interior had 

disclosed a new security program intended, in its first phase, to protect the strategic facilities in 

six major cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Fez, Tangier, and Agadir.61 The article also

mentions that Morocco had officially announced that it provided the United Arab Emirates 

(UAE) with military aid to help them confront what it called “terrorist threats,” and quoted the 

Moroccan Foreign Minister as explaining that the aid comes within the framework of the 

bilateral relationship, but that Morocco would be ready to extend its aid to other countries in the 

region “concerned with terrorist threats.”62

59 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM 2013: MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, ch. 2 

(Apr. 2014), http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2013/224823.htm. 

60 Morocco Creates an Internal Intelligence Agency to Combat Terrorism, ROAYAH NEWS (Mar. 22, 2015),

 .html.المغرب-ينشئ-وكالة-استخبارات-داخلية-لم/830931-22/com.roayahnews.www://http

61 “Warned” Moroccan Security Program to Combat Terrorism, AL JAZEERA (Oct. 30, 2014), 

 .حذر-برنامج-أمني-مغربي-لمكافحة-اإلرهاب/2014/10/29/reportsandinterviews/news/net.aljazeera.www://http

62 Id.

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Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia: Responses to Terrorism 

Morocco has also adopted a “soft” counterterrorism policy but that policy differs from Saudi 

Arabia’s in two respects. The first difference is its emphasis on educating and finding 

employment for youth and on helping other disadvantaged sections of society, such as through 

expanding the legal rights of women.63 The second is its emphasis on teaching adherence to the

precepts of Islam as developed by the Maliki School of Islamic thought. In this respect the 

Government of Morocco perceives the “violent Islamist extremist ideologies” to be imported into 

the country from abroad because such ideologies are not supported by the mainstream Maliki 

School of Sunni Islam.64

In a report prepared in 2013 by the CNA Corporation, a nonprofit research organization that 

operates the Center for Naval Analyses and the Institute for Public Research, the authors refer to 

Morocco’s approach to countering terrorism, which includes utilizing law enforcement and 

intelligence gathering procedures as well as “soft power” programs and initiatives related to 

religious education and discussions with youth about the true meaning of religion. The authors 

of the report state that, “[b]y providing healthcare and job training to the poor, expanding rural 

infrastructure, and improving the overall livelihood of Moroccans, the Moroccan government 

hopes to counter the appeal of extremist messages and ideologies, especially among the poor and 

disadvantaged.”65

 Furthermore, “[t]he Moroccan government also considers political reforms

and increased attention to human rights issues as additional components of its efforts to combat 

the root causes of terrorism.”66

In terms of reinforcing the influence of the Maliki School, initiatives include “upgrading places 

of worship, closing unregulated mosques, rehabilitating those who have been convicted of a 

terror-related crime, promoting Moroccan religious values on television and radio, and 

modernizing the teaching of Islam.”67

 The report lists the following examples:

 The development of “a curriculum for Morocco’s imams for countering violent extremism

and advancing tolerance”;

 The establishment of the Moroccan Council of Ulama for Europe and the Minister Delegate

for Moroccans Living Abroad, aimed at promoting religious tolerance among Moroccans

living in Europe;

 A new Islamic satellite television channel, launched by the King of Morocco, which

advocates Islamic ideals of tolerance, taking direct aim at jihadist clerics and their media.”68

63 Id. 

64 Id.

65 ERIC V. THOMPSON & WILL MCCANTS, PARTNERS AGAINST TERROR: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR 

U.S.-MOROCCAN COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION 3 (2013), http://www.cna.org/sites/default/files/research/ 

PartnersAgainstTerrorism2.pdf. 

66 Id.

67 Id.

68 Id. at 4. 

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Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia: Responses to Terrorism 

C. Algeria 

Algeria has made consistent efforts to enhance the capabilities of its security forces. According 

to the Department of State’s 2013 Country Reports on Terrorism, “the Government of Algeria 

has multiple law enforcement, intelligence, and security agencies with delineated responsibilities 

to address counterterrorism, counter-intelligence, media monitoring, investigations, border 

security, crisis response, and anti-corruption.”69 The report identifies the following initiatives

in Algeria: 

1. Working toward building the capacity of the National Institute of Forensic Science and

Criminology in order to obtain certification from the International Organization for

Standardization (this Institute belongs to the National Gendarmerie, one of the Algerian

security agencies);

2. Obtaining the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Combined DNA Index System

(CODIS),70 which allows Algeria to share DNA data with other foreign security forces in

their joint fight against terrorism; and

3. Consulting with the US Department of Justice’s International Criminal Investigative Training

Assistance Program on targeted capacity-building and training in forensics, criminal

investigation, and border security.

A media report dated December 2014 indicated that the Criminal Court in Algiers will, during 

2015, address twenty-seven cases related to terrorism. Among the most prominent of these cases 

is that involving friends and family members of convicted terrorist Abd al-Hamid abu Zaid. The 

accused are charged with belonging to an armed terrorist group, compromising the security of 

citizens, incitement of terrorist acts, and financing an armed terrorist group.71

Recently, the Criminal Court in Algiers began the trial of forty-one terrorists headed by 

Abdelmalek Droukdel, the leader of the terrorist group known as al-Qaeda in the Islamic 

Maghreb, who are facing charges related to several murders committed during the 1990s in 

Algiers and in Boumerdes.72

Algeria’s approach to dealing with the religious element of terrorism differs from both Saudi 

Arabia and Morocco. The Algerian government does not allow anyone to preach in mosques 

other than those appointed by the government to do so. 73 This lessens the possibility of

importing “violent Islamist extremist ideologies,” gives the government the capability of 

69 Id.

70 Id. 

71 Supplementary List by the Felony [Court] in the Capital: 140 Cases Ready for Trial, 27 of which Are for 

Terrorism, RADIO ALGERIE (Dec. 14, 2014), http://www.radioalgerie.dz/news/ar/article/20141214/22621.html. 

72 Algiers: Trial of 41 Terrorists Including the Commander of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Abdelmalek 

Droukdel, ALCHOUROUK.COM (Feb. 15, 2015), http://www.alchourouk.com/93692/691/1/-

 .html-._الجزائر:_محاكمة_41_ارهابيا_منهم_أمير_تنظيم_القاعدة_في_بالد_المغرب_االسالمي_عبد_المالك_دروكدال

73 Id.

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Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia: Responses to Terrorism 

monitoring mosques “for possible security-related offenses,” and “prohibits the use of mosques 

as public meeting places outside of regular prayer hours.”74

In a 2012 report on counterterrorism strategies in Algeria, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia, the 

authors state that “Algeria does not have a comprehensive approach to counter-terrorism and the 

underlying strategy is not entirely known.”75

 At the same time the report opines that “it can be

argued that Algeria is moving towards a more holistic approach to tackling recruitment by jihadi 

Salafists and terrorism, and it is currently combining a ‘hard’ (military) approach to combat 

armed cells with a ‘soft’ (religious) approach to prevent religiously motivated recruits from 

engaging in terrorism.”76 However, the report goes on to express the view that “the Algerian

regime is preoccupied with its survival and sustaining its power structure, and that this attitude 

dictates Algeria’s counterterrorism effort.”77

 The report adds that “counter-terrorism measures

are designed ... to ensure the people’s loyalty to the state” and that, “[h]istorically, civil society 

and associational life have been severely suppressed, with the exception of the brief period 

between 1988 and 1992.”78

Final Note 

We note that, while the Saudi Government is fighting terrorist organizations within the 

Kingdom, some reports suggest it is actually supporting similar groups (such as al-Nusra) who 

are fighting abroad. In a speech delivered at Harvard University in 2014, the US Vice President 

reportedly acknowledged that Saudi Arabia, among other countries, was too focused on opposing 

Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to see the potential trouble being created by arming and financing 

radical extremists.79

We also note that the press has recently published what appears to be a Moroccan government 

top-secret document showing Morocco’s collusion with groups carrying out terrorist actions in a 

foreign country.80

74 Id.

75 NOORHAIDI HASAN ET AL., COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGIES IN INDONESIA, ALGERIA AND SAUDI ARABIA 94 

(2012), http://english.wodc.nl/images/1806-volledige-tekst_tcm45-435986.pdf. 

76 Id.

77 Id. at 71. 

78 Id.

79 All Politics is Personal; VP Biden Delivers Address at Kennedy School Forum, HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL (Oct. 

3, 2014), http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/articles/joe-biden-forum-event. 

80 “Death Deal” Between Moroccan Intelligence and “Droukdel” in a Secret Meeting in Mauritania, WESTERN 

SAHARA NEWS, http://diasporasaharaui-en.blogspot.com/2015/02/death-deal-between-moroccan.html (last visited 

Apr. 13, 2015).

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