BY/ Hana Saada
ALGIERS- The declassified documents from the Belgian State Security have shed light on the involvement of Morocco in what has been mistakenly referred to as “Qatargate.” These documents, obtained by a journalist from the Spanish media outlet Nius Diario, reveal a series of activities conducted by Morocco’s secret services, which have had a significant impact on the affairs shaking the European Parliament, reported Sudinfo news website.
According to the aforementioned website, Nius Diario, an information portal associated with Mediaset, has published excerpts from these declassified documents, highlighting Morocco’s central role in the scandal. The Belgian State Security agents were investigating alleged espionage attempts and interference in international institutions in Belgium, and their findings were shared with the Belgian courts, ultimately leading to the much-discussed scandal.
One of the key targets of the investigation was Morocco and its secret services. The documents available on the Spanish website show the Belgian State Security’s interest in individuals who have already been mentioned in the “Qatargate” case. These individuals include Mohamed Yassine Mansouri, the head of Moroccan espionage, who is alleged to have had direct communication with two Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Additionally, the documents mention Mohamed Belharache, a businessman who had previously been investigated by Belgian authorities in 2008, and Abderrahim Atmoun, Morocco’s ambassador to Poland, whom Belgian reports describe as a “recruiter.”
The investigators discovered that the objective of these individuals was multifaceted. They aimed to influence the composition of various commissions, sway votes and opinions, manipulate the annual report on the common foreign and security policy signed by the European Parliament each year, and even exert influence over the nomination of candidates for the prestigious Sakharov Prize, the EU’s highest distinction in the field of human rights.
The VSSE report, based on the findings of the Belgian State Security, uncovers Morocco’s persistent attempts to interfere with the European Union. One commission that frequently appears in the documents is the one responsible for investigating spyware, including the notorious “Pegasus.”
Pegasus, developed by a Zionist company, is considered a weapon of war, specifically designed to attack iOS and Android smartphones by bypassing all security systems. The Spanish media, relying on the VSSE report, reveals that Morocco’s interest in controlling the activities of the Pegasus Commission is twofold. Firstly, to influence investigations into the espionage activities targeting various political leaders and EU presidents, including Pedro Sánchez, who has been a target due to Morocco’s views on Western Sahara. Secondly, Morocco seeks to influence investigations into the Spanish government, which is alleged to have conducted wiretapping operations using the same Pegasus software against Catalan separatist leaders.
It was announced on Thursday that these Catalan leaders have successfully filed a complaint in Brussels, and an investigation has been launched. Brussels was chosen as the venue for the complaint because some of these leaders currently reside in Belgium.
The revelations from the declassified documents have unveiled the extensive involvement of Morocco’s secret services in the scandal rocking the European Parliament. As more information comes to light, it is crucial to continue investigating and holding accountable those responsible for these actions that undermine the integrity of democratic institutions and processes.