Latest news with #British-Moroccan
Morocco World
4 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Calls Grow for UK to Intervene in Imprisoned Fighter Lee Murray's Case
Lee Brahim Murray-Lamrani is a British-Moroccan former MMA fighter, born on November 12, 1977, in London to a Moroccan father and English mother. In his early life in Woolwich, London, Murray gained notoriety due to his alleged linkage with illegal activities, including violence and drug dealing, before indulging in the MMA world. In 2006, Murray was involved in a robbery of £53m from a Securitas depot in Kent, England, with a group of masked men before he ran away to Morocco. After four months on the run, Murray was caught in Rabat in a joint operation conducted by Moroccan and British police. He was sentenced to 10 years in Moroccan prison before the sentence was increased to 25 years on appeal. Lee's younger son, Lenie Murray, was two years old during the incident. 'I was only two years old when my dad went to prison. I've spent my whole life without him. He's missed my childhood, and I've missed having a father by my side,' Lenie told Morocco World News (MWN) in an exclusive interview. Read also: Human Rights Groups Demand Inquiry into Lee Murray's Conviction 'He made a mistake a very long time ago that he's taken responsibility for and changed for the better. He's still my dad. I love him and miss him every day. I just want the chance to know him properly and to have him be part of my life. I'm not asking for anything more than the chance to share time with the father I've missed for 19 years. 'My father has spent 19 years in a Moroccan prison — far longer than anyone else involved in the same case received in the UK,' he added. Human rights groups are now demanding that the UK parliament take action in the case. 'We are urging the UK government to formally support a pardon request for Lee,' Radha Stirling, CEO of Due Process International and founder of Detained in Dubai, told Morocco World News. She added: 'We're also urging an investigation into whether the UK government breached its obligation to its own citizens, to pursue a prosecution by a foreign government since this sets a dangerous precedent.' Murray's MMA Career Murray started his MMA career in 1999 at an event called 'Millennium Brawl' when he won over Rob Hudson by a first-round knockout, and gained the nickname 'lightning.' Lee fought four times in 2000 and won each fight with either a submission or a knockout. His aggressive, unpredictable style made him one of the most feared fighters at that time. Dana white, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), described him as 'the most legit gangsters of all time.' Dana detailed: 'I actually ran into Lee Murray right after he got stabbed. He got stabbed everywhere and they were still fresh…Days after Lee Murray got stabbed, he's walking around the event with all the stitches still in him. Lee Murray is one of the most legit gangsters of all time, he really is.' Murray has a professional record of 8-2-1 (win-loss-draw) with remarkable fights, including his win over Jorge Rivera at UFC 46 via triangle armbar in just 1 minute and 45 seconds of the first round. Eight months later, Lee delivered a competitive fight with the UFC legend and Hall-of-Fame Anderson Silva in Cage Rage 8, which ended by decision for Silva. On September 28, 2005, Murray faced the incident that would put an end to his MMA career. He was stabbed repeatedly in the heart at a birthday party at Funky Buddha nightclub in Mayfair. According to The Standard, Murray underwent open-heart surgery and needed 30 pints of blood, but no one was charged with the attack. 'First, they stabbed me in the head. At first, I thought it was a punch. When I felt blood running down my face, I wiped it away and kept fighting. Then I looked down and blood was spurting from my chest. I knew I had been stabbed in the heart by the blood gushing out of me. Blood sprayed from me about a meter away,' Murray said in an interview. Nearly two decades after the Securitas robbery, Lee Murray remains imprisoned in Morocco, and his case continues to draw attention from human rights advocates. Tags: human rightslee murrayMMA
Morocco World
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Human Rights Groups Demand Inquiry into Lee Murray's Conviction
Rabat– Legal advocacy organizations 'Due Process International' and 'Detained in Dubai' are urging the UK Parliament to launch an urgent inquiry into the government's involvement in the prosecution of Lee Brahim Murray-Lamrani. Murray, 47, is a British-Moroccan former MMA fighter. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Morocco over his involvement in the 2006 Securitas depot robbery of nearly £53 million in Kent, the biggest robbery in UK history. Nicknamed 'Lightning' Lee, Murray started his MMA career in 1999 with a knockout, before building an impressive record that led him to his first UFC victory in 2004. Murray was arrested on June 25, 2006 in Rabat in a joint operation conducted by Moroccan and British authorities. In a statement on July 16, the two organizations argued that the crime took place entirely on UK soil. And that when the extradition of Murray was denied under Moroccan law, British authorities supplied Moroccan prosecutors with police intelligence, case files, and evidence to pursue the conviction. 'Governments should not make 'quid pro quo' trade, security, or diplomatic deals just to secure the extradition or foreign prosecution of individual targets,' Radha Stirling, CEO of Due Process International and founder of Detained in Dubai, wrote on X . Radha cited 'serious human rights issues' including the absence of legal counsel during the appeal process, which led to increasing his sentence from 10 to 25 years. Due Process International has also called on the UK government to support a royal pardon for Murray, urging British authorities to advocate for his release following nearly two decades of prison. The UK government has not made any official response to the groups' demands. Tags: human rightslee murrayMMA
Ya Biladi
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Rights groups urge UK parliamentary inquiry into MMA fighter Lee Murray's conviction in Morocco
Legal advocacy groups Due Process International and Detained in Dubai are calling for an urgent Parliamentary inquiry into the UK government's role in the prosecution of British-Moroccan citizen Lee Brahim Murray-Lamrani. Murray is currently serving a 25-year sentence in Morocco after being convicted for his role in the 2006 Securitas depot heist in Kent—the largest cash robbery in British history. In a statement on July 16, the two organisations argue that the crime was committed entirely on UK soil, and that when extradition to the UK was blocked under Moroccan law, British authorities provided Moroccan prosecutors with police intelligence, case files, and evidence to secure a conviction abroad. «This is a clear-cut case of proxy prosecution», said Due Process International. «The UK Government bypassed its own courts, exported a British citizen's trial to a foreign jurisdiction, and denied him the legal protections he would have received at home». Radha Stirling, CEO of DPI and founder of Detained in Dubai, highlighted «serious human rights concerns», including alleged due process violations during the Moroccan trial, such as the absence of legal counsel during the appeal that saw Murray's sentence increased from 10 to 25 years. «If this was a quid pro quo conviction, it must be fully investigated», she said. The organisations are urging UK MPs on Foreign Affairs Committee and the Joint Committee on Human Rights to examine whether the UK violated its obligations, particularly amid what they describe as «enhanced diplomatic cooperation» with Morocco. «This is not just about one man», Stirling added. «If the UK can engineer a prosecution abroad when extradition fails, it opens the door to future abuses—not just in Morocco, but globally». DPI has also called on the UK government to support a presidential pardon for Murray: «Lee has now served the better part of two decades in prison, far longer than he likely would have if tried in the UK. It is time for compassion and for the UK to right this wrong». Awaits freedom in his Moroccan cell Born in London in 1977, Lee Murray grew up in the UK and spent his early years apart from his Moroccan father. As a teenager, Murray became involved in crime alongside childhood friend and accomplice Paul Allen, engaging in drug dealing and armed robberies. He had his first conviction as a minor for possession of cocaine and cannabis. Despite his run-ins with the law, Murray also pursued a promising career in mixed martial arts (MMA), gaining notoriety as a fierce competitor in the UK fight scene. However, his criminal ties ultimately overshadowed his sporting ambitions. The February 2006 Securitas robbery marked a turning point. Murray, accused of orchestrating the heist, fled to Morocco four days after the gang made off with £53 million from a cash depot in Tonbridge, Kent. Seeking to avoid extradition, he sought Moroccan citizenship. On June 25, 2006, he was arrested in Rabat in a joint operation by Moroccan and British authorities. In 2010, a Moroccan court sentenced Murray to 10 years in prison. That sentence was later increased to 25 years on appeal. «There's no happiness where I am», he said in a 2018 interview from his prison cell in Tifelt. «But I suppose I can say I'm happy to still be alive. (…) There have been times when I was sitting in a room next to people with multiple death sentences, and in those moments, your own problems suddenly seem very small».
Morocco World
15-07-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
SIST, Cardiff Met University Marks 25 Years of British Education in Morocco with Nationwide Open Days
On Saturday, July 12, the British Education Group (BEG) held Open Days across its campuses to mark 25 years of delivering British higher education in Morocco. The event celebrated the long-standing partnership between the Superior Institutions of Science and Technology (SIST) and Cardiff Metropolitan University, which began in 2001. SIST, Cardiff Met University Open Day A quarter century of British-Moroccan academic partnership Since its establishment, SIST has played a pioneering role in introducing UK-accredited degrees to Moroccan students. As an associate college of Cardiff Metropolitan University, SIST has grown into the leading British higher education provider in the country. The partnership allows Moroccan students to obtain globally recognized UK degrees without the need to relocate abroad, while also offering flexible pathways to complete their studies in the UK. Campuses open doors to future students Prospective students and their families visited the campuses to learn about SIST's programs, meet academic staff, and explore the student experience. SIST, Cardiff Met University Open Day Information sessions focused on bachelor's degrees in Business Management and Computer Science, as well as postgraduate programs including master's and MBA options. Students were also introduced to the option of transferring or completing their studies in the UK. The Open Days drew attendees from across the country, reflecting a growing interest in internationally recognized degrees offered locally. New scholarships celebrate 25-year milestone To commemorate its 25th anniversary, the British Education Group announced a 50% scholarship for the first 100 qualified applicants in 2025. The initiative aims to make British higher education more accessible to Moroccan students and to continue fostering academic excellence. SIST, Cardiff Met University Open Day 'These Open Days, current and past, were a vibrant demonstration of our commitment to equipping Moroccan students with world-class qualifications and the skills needed to thrive in a globalized economy,' said Ahmad Suhail, Director of SIST Tangier. 'The excitement and engagement from attendees, coupled with the recent automatic recognition of UK degrees, underscores the unparalleled value and relevance of British education in Morocco today.' Global skills, student transformation The event also noted the educational philosophy that defines SIST's approach. 'We train our students in critical thinking, teamwork, and communication,' said Yassine Kabbaj, a lecturer at the Tangier campus, to Morocco World News (MWN) at the sidelines of the open day. SIST, Cardiff Met University Open Day 'I've taught students from their first year to graduation, and we've seen incredible transformations. One of our key activities is the Model United Nations, a very professional, formal simulation that challenges them to think globally.' Amy, another faculty member at the Tangier campus, echoed this perspective. 'What we offer here is access to a world-class curriculum within a close-knit, supportive environment. Our students are multilingual, tech-savvy, and ready to contribute on a global scale. They graduate not just with a degree but with the mindset and skills to be impactful citizens,' she told MWN. A broader mission across Morocco SIST is part of the broader British Education Group, which includes the British Academy School Marrakech (BASM), the International Institute for Engineering & Management (IIEM), and the British Language Centre (BLC). SIST, Cardiff Met University Open Day Together, these institutions offer a full pathway from early education to postgraduate study. The 25-year milestone is a testament to BEG's commitment to shaping globally minded leaders from Morocco. With growing interest in British degrees and increasing government recognition, BEG and SIST are on an upward path to deepen their educational roots in the North African kingdom. SIST, Cardiff Met University Open Day As Badreddine Baim, General Manager at SIST Rabat, said in a statement, 'We are incredibly proud of the legacy we've built over 25 years at the British Education Group, and particularly the transformative impact of our partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University at SIST.' Tags: Cardiff Met UniversityEducationMoroccoMorocco educationSISTUK Morocco
Express Tribune
13-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi indicted in Lagardère investigation
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi has been indicted for complicity in abuse of power in an investigation concerning a key 2018 vote within the Lagardère group. According to AFP, Al-Khelaïfi was formally charged on 5 February over allegations that he influenced Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, to shift its stance in an internal governance dispute involving Arnaud Lagardère in exchange for undisclosed benefits. Judicial sources confirmed that the PSG president is also facing charges of complicity in vote-buying and obstruction of voting rights. The investigation centres on whether Al-Khelaïfi played a role in QIA's reversal of its initial position to support Lagardère's governance resolutions, days after being contacted by the businessman and his associates. A source close to Al-Khelaïfi dismissed the allegations, stating: 'This case has nothing to do with Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. His name is being used improperly, and in a few years, this case will collapse in silence.' The case is part of a broader probe into Lagardère's financial activities. Prosecutors allege that Lagardère misused €125 million from Lagardère SAS and Lagardère Capital & Management to fund personal expenses over several years. The 2018 dispute saw a struggle for control between Vincent Bolloré, aligned with Amber Capital, and Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, who backed Lagardère. Five days after QIA initially voted in favour of Amber Capital's resolutions, the fund changed its stance to support Lagardère. Magistrates are examining whether this shift was linked to the appointment of Jamal Benomar, a British-Moroccan diplomat with ties to Doha, to Lagardère's supervisory board as an 'independent member.' Al-Khelaïfi has faced multiple legal proceedings in recent years. His indictment for corruption in Qatar's bids for the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships was annulled by France's Court of Cassation in 2023, ruling French courts had no jurisdiction. Parisian investigating judges are also reviewing allegations of kidnapping and detention in Qatar made by Franco-Algerian lobbyist Tayeb Benabderrahmane. Al-Khelaïfi has denied any involvement and has filed a counterclaim.
