View source for Murders of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and Maren Ueland

{{short description|2018 murders of two Scandinavian tourists in Morocco}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Murders of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and Maren Ueland
| partof =
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| map = {{Location map |Morocco|relief=yes |31.126372|-7.917829|label= Imlil|alt=Imlil in Morocco}}
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| location = Foothills of [[Toubkal|Mount Toubkal]], close to the village of [[Imlil, Marrakesh-Safi|Imlil]], [[Morocco]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/17/bodies-of-two-female-tourists-found-in-moroccos-high-atlas|title=Suspect held after Scandinavian tourists killed in Moroccan mountains|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]|date=18 December 2018|access-date=22 December 2018|newspaper=The Guardian }}</ref>
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| date = December 17, 2018 (bodies discovered)
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| type = [[Decapitation]], [[stabbing]]<ref name="CNN">{{cite news|last1=Altaher|first1=Nada |last2=Picheta|first2=Rob |url= https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/20/africa/morocco-scandinavian-tourists-murder-intl/index.html |title=Arrests made after two tourists beheaded in Morocco|date=21 December 2018|publisher=CNN|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref>
| fatalities =
| injuries =
| victims = Louisa Vesterager Jespersen<br>Maren Ueland
| perpetrators = {{flag|Islamic State}}
| assailants = Abdessamad Ejjoud<br>Younes Ouaziyad<br>Rachid Afatti
| susperps = <!-- or | susperp = -->
| weapons =
| numparts = 24
| dfens = <!-- or | dfen = -->
| motive = [[Islamic extremism]]<br>
Revenge for the [[Battle of Hajin]]<ref name=theguardian />
| inquiry =
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| accused =
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| verdict = 3 [[Capital punishment in Morocco|sentenced to death]], 20 sentenced to 5 to 30 years in prison
| convictions = [[Murder]]
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On 17 December 2018, the bodies of '''Louisa Vesterager Jespersen''', a 24-year-old Danish woman, and '''Maren Ueland''', a 28-year-old Norwegian woman, were found decapitated in the foothills of [[Toubkal|Mount Toubkal]] near to the village of [[Imlil, Marrakesh-Safi|Imlil]] in the [[Atlas Mountains]] of [[Morocco]].<ref name="TheGuardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/21/bodies-of-women-murdered-morocco-flown-home-louisa-vesterager-jespersen-maren-ueland|title=Scandinavian student murders: nine more arrested in Morocco|date=21 December 2018|access-date=22 December 2018|newspaper=The Guardian|agency=Agence France-Presse }}</ref><ref name="CNN" />
A total of 18 men have been arrested by [[Sûreté Nationale (Morocco)|Moroccan Police]] in relation to the murders. The murders were described by the Moroccan general prosecutor as a [[Islamic terrorism|terrorist]] act, after a video released on the Internet showed several of the suspects  swearing allegiance to the [[Islamic State]] while decapitating Jespersen.<ref name="CBSNews">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/louisa-vesterager-jespersen-maren-ueland-norway-murder-video-from-morocco-likely-authentic/|title=Video allegedly shows university students' murders in Morocco|publisher=CBS News|date=21 December 2018|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="JP Thykier at al" />
== Background ==
{{Further|Islamic terrorism#Morocco}}
Louisa Vesterager Jespersen (born 1994) grew up in [[Ikast]], Denmark. She attended Vestre School, and became a student at the {{ill|Ikast-Brande Gymnasium|da}} in 2013. She had been traveling to various countries, such as Argentina, Peru, and Norway. Jespersen applied for participation in the [[Fjällräven]] Polar expedition in 2017 and 2018.
Maren Ueland (born 1990) was from [[Bryne]], Norway and was a trained social and healthcare assistant.
Jespersen and Ueland were students at the [[University of South-Eastern Norway]], where they studied [[outdoor recreation]] and nature guidance to become tour guides.<ref name="BBC" /> The pair had arrived in Morocco on 9 December as tourists, with the intention of [[Backpacking (hiking)|trekking]] and "chasing experiences", according to Jespersen's mother.<ref name="JP Thykier at al">{{cite news|last1=Thykier|first1=Michael |last2=Haislund |first2= Jacob |url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/premium/indblik/Indland/ECE11086372/islamisk-stat-i-soegelyset-efter-drab-paa-to-veninder/|title=Islamisk Stat i søgelyset efter drab på to veninder|work=Jyllands-Posten|date=20 December 2018|access-date=22 December 2018|language=da}}</ref> The two women first arrived in [[Marrakesh]], before traveling to [[Imlil, Marrakesh-Safi|Imlil]] in the [[Atlas Mountains]]. The village of Imlil is popular with travellers as the main base for summiting [[Toubkal]], which is the highest peak in [[North Africa]].<ref name="TheGuardian" />
Four attackers had shared a video on social media before the attacks, pledging allegiance to the ISIS terror group, and discussed "destruction caused by the warplanes of the [[International military intervention against the Islamic State|Crusader alliance]]". One of the attackers stated, "Keep fighting the enemies of [[Allah]], wherever you are, you have no excuse and, be informed that we are your supporters… you have allies among us".<ref>{{cite news|last=Bachl |first=Matt |url=https://www.9news.com.au/2018/12/21/04/37/maren-ueland-louyisa-vesterager-jespersen-isis-morocco-extremist-terrorist-murder|title=Moroccan four 'swore allegiance to ISIS' before decapitating female tourist|website=9News |date=21 December 2018|access-date=26 January 2019}}</ref>
According to [[Swedish Defence University|Swedish Defense University]] researcher [[Magnus Ranstorp]], terrorists attacking tourists is not a new phenomenon, and it aims to destabilize the country where such attacks take place.<ref name="JP Thykier at al" />
While Morocco is generally seen as a secure destination for tourists, the last terrorist attack happened in 2011, where [[2011 Marrakesh bombing|17 people were killed by a bombing]] at a restaurant in Marrakesh. Over 1,600 people have traveled from Morocco to join the Islamic State in the [[Syrian civil war]]. Moroccan authorities initially ignored the people who joined ISIS but later realized they could return to commit terrorist offenses in Morocco. As a result, the ''{{ill|Bureau central d'investigation judiciaire|fr}}'' (BCIJ) was formed.<ref name="JP Plesner">{{Cite web|last=Plesner|first=Eva |url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/premium/indblik/Indland/ECE11086519/mindst-1600-marokkanere-sluttede-sig-til-is-nu-har-marokko-et-problem-med-hellige-krigere/|title=Mindst 1.600 marokkanere sluttede sig til IS: Nu har Marokko et problem med "hellige krigere"|date=20 December 2018|work=Jyllands-Posten|access-date=2018-12-23|language=da}}</ref>
According to a researcher at the [[Danish Institute for International Studies]], "Moroccan authorities appear to have a good grip on the [[Jihadism|jihadist]] situation, and cooperate with European and US authorities". Moroccans are overrepresented in "[[Moroccan diaspora|diaspora]] terrorism", which is terrorism which takes place outside the borders of Morocco; for example, two Moroccans were behind the [[2017 London Bridge attack]], a Moroccan killed people by driving his van into pedestrians in [[La Rambla, Barcelona|La Rambla]] in the [[2017 Barcelona attacks|2017 Barcelona terrorist attacks]], and the following day, another Moroccan killed two women and wounded 8 other victims in the [[2017 Turku attack]].<ref name="JP Plesner" />
== Murders and investigation ==
[[File:Imlil view.jpg|thumb|The village of Imlil and the surrounding valley]]
On the morning of 17 December 2018, a pair of French hikers came across the decapitated bodies of the victims, and their tent, near a trail connecting Imlil to Mount Toubkal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Skjetne |first1=Oda Leraan|last2=Mikalsen|first2=Helge|last3=Sandnes|first3=Ådne Husby |last4=Haram|first4=Ola |title=De fant Maren og Louisa drept: – Det var forferdelig |url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/i/ka9Xr6/de-fant-maren-og-louisa-drept-det-var-forferdelig |date=19 December 2018|access-date=23 December 2018 |work=Verdens Gang |language=nb-NO}}</ref> A suspect named Abderrahim Khayali was quickly apprehended following the incident, after police found an ID in the victims' tent, that had been left behind by the suspect.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/radical-young-men-key-suspects-in-morocco-tourist-murders/ar-BBRioNS |title='Radical' young men key suspects in Morocco tourist murders |first1=Ismail |last1=Bellaouali |first2=Hamza |last2=Mekouar |date=22 December 2018 |access-date=24 April 2019 |work=[[MSN News]]}}</ref> Three additional suspects, Abdessamad Ejjoud, Rachid Afatti, and Younes Ouaziyad, were later apprehended by the police while riding a bus during the morning rush hour in the nearby city of [[Marrakesh]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20181222-radical-young-men-key-suspects-morocco-tourist-murders |title='Radical' young men key suspects in Morocco tourist murders |date=22 December 2018 |access-date=24 April 2019 |agency=Agence France-Presse |via=[[France24]]}}</ref> The three suspects were caught in possession of bladed weapons. Abdessamad Ejjoud is assumed to be the leader of the group, and the four men had shot a video the week before the murders, where they pledged allegiance to ISIS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/mastermind-of-backpacker-beheadings-arrested-moroccan-officials-say|title='Mastermind' of backpacker beheadings arrested, Moroccan officials say|first=Samuel|last=Chamberlain|date=24 December 2018|publisher=Fox News|access-date=26 January 2019}}</ref>
The killers had agreed to carry out a terrorist act on either security services or foreign tourists, before deciding to travel to the Imlil region to look for foreigners, and where they would target the two backpackers.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Neill|first=Marnie |url=https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/what-lone-wolf-gang-did-before-scandinavian-tourist-beheadings/news-story/bf05f436eed0be63f2c13df110966332|title=What 'lone wolf' gang did before Scandinavian tourist beheadings|website=[[news.com.au]]|date=27 December 2018|access-date=26 January 2019}}</ref> In the video of the killings, the attackers can be heard shouting "enemies of Allah", and "revenge for our brothers in [[Hajin]]".<ref name=theguardian>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/20/morocco-killing-of-scandinavian-women-linked-to-militants-says-prosecutor|title=Morocco murders: agents investigate footage as terror fears mount|first=Peter|last=Beaumont|date=20 December 2018|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=26 January 2019}}</ref>
Moroccan police later made additional arrests of individuals believed to have connections with the suspects.<ref name="CBSNews" />
=== Trial ===
In total, 24 went on trial in [[Salé]], near [[Rabat]] in Morocco. Of those charged, 23 suspects are Moroccans from [[Marrakesh]], and one is a Swiss-Spanish Muslim convert. Three of them were charged with murder, and the other 23 of various terrorist charges.<ref name="BBC">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48471301|title=Morocco suspect admits killing Scandinavian hiker|publisher=BBC News|date=31 May 2019|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref>
In May 2019, one of the suspects admitted to killing one of the women. He had previously been jailed for having attempted to [[Foreign fighters in the Syrian Civil War and War in Iraq|join the Islamic State in Syria]], and was released in 2015.<ref name="BBC" />
In July 2019, three of the suspects were given a [[Capital punishment|death sentence]], which their lawyer said he would appeal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-49029505|title=Morocco hikers: Three get death penalty for Scandinavian tourist murders|publisher=BBC News|date=18 July 2019|access-date=2019-07-19}}</ref>
==== Appeal ====
On 31 October 2019, the death sentence for three of the convicted was upheld by the anti-terrorist court in [[Salé]]. In total, 24 suspects connected to the murders, or who were members of the jihadist cell, were sentenced.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/10/31/scandinaves-assassinees-au-maroc-peine-de-mort-confirmee-pour-les-trois-auteurs_6017506_3212.html|title=Scandinaves assassinées au Maroc : peine de mort confirmée pour les trois auteurs|date=2019-10-31|access-date=2019-10-31|language=fr}}</ref>
The prime suspect, Abdessamad Ejjoud, was 25 years of age and organized the murder expedition with two accomplices, Younes Ouaziyad (27) and Rachid Afatti (33) who filmed the murders. A fourth suspect, Abderrahim Khayali, had his sentence elevated from [[life imprisonment]] to the death penalty. Khayali was part of the expedition into the mountain, but left the group before the killings. The court upheld received sentences from 5 to 30 years in prison for nineteen of the accused, and elevated one sentence from 15 to 20 years in prison. Ejjoud used his chance to speak before the sentence to ask for the death penalty, as he believed in neither the laws nor human rights. Ouaziyad and Afatti recited verses from the [[Quran]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/morocco-backpacker-murders-court-confirms-death-penalty-for-killers/a-51060026|title=Morocco backpacker murders: Court confirms death penalty for killers {{!}} DW {{!}} 31.10.2019|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-10-31}}</ref>
Like in the first trial, the court ordered the four prime suspects to pay 190,000 euros to the parents of Maren Ueland.<ref name=":0" />
The death penalty is still in effect in Morocco. In practice, no executions have taken place since 1993.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
As of 2024, the suspects are still awaiting execution.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-07-18 |title=Three sentenced to death for Morocco backpacker murders |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-morocco-crime-idUSKCN1UD2GN |access-date=2023-01-24}}</ref> On 28 February 2023, Abderrahmane Khayali committed [[suicide by hanging]] with a piece of cloth taken from his clothes anchored to a window; he was awaiting execution at the local prison in [[Oujda]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-01 |title=Meurtre d'Imlil: suicide de l'un des détenus à la prison d'Oujda |url=https://medias24.com/2023/03/01/meurtre-dimlil-suicide-de-lun-des-detenus-a-la-prison-doujda/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=Médias24 |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=معروف |first=غير |title=مندوبية السجون تعلن انتحار محكوم بالإعدام ضمن خلية "شمهروش" بسجن وجدة |url=https://al3omk.com/822482.html |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=al3omk.com |date=28 February 2023 |language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Affaire Chamharouch : Condamné à mort, Abderrahmane Khayali se suicide en prison |url=https://www.lopinion.ma/Affaire-Chamharouch-Condamne-a-mort-Abderrahmane-Khayali-se-suicide-en-prison_a37230.html |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=L'Opinion |language=fr}}</ref>
== Funerals ==
The remains of the victims were flown to [[Copenhagen]], Denmark on 21 December 2018.<ref name="NRK">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/rogaland/marens-familie-takker-for-stotten-1.14352179|title=Marens familie takker for støtten|last=Skodje|first=Marte|date=21 December 2018|website=NRK|language=nb-NO|access-date=2018-12-23}}</ref>
Jespersen's funeral was held in her native town of [[Ikast]], Denmark on 12 January.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thelocal.dk/20190112/danish-pm-joins-hundreds-at-funeral-for-dane-slain-in-morocco |title=Danish PM joins hundreds at funeral for Dane slain in Morocco |newspaper=The Local Denmark |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=12 January 2019 |access-date=24 April 2019 |via=[[The Local]]}}</ref> The [[Prime Minister of Denmark]], [[Lars Løkke Rasmussen]], attended the funeral.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/danish-woman-louisa-vesterager-jespersen-murdered-in-morocco-mourned-by-hundreds-at-funeral/news-story/1e5bf466ed0f29591df21e0357827d0a|title=Danish woman Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, murdered in Morocco, mourned by hundreds at funeral|website=news.com.au|date=13 January 2019|access-date=26 January 2019}}</ref>
Ueland was buried on 21 January in [[Jæren]], Norway. The Norwegian Minister of Health, [[Bent Høie]], and the [[List of ambassadors of Morocco to Russia|Moroccan Ambassador]], Lamia Radi, attended the ceremony.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gp.se/1.12614827|title=Mördad norska begravdes|work=Göteborgs-Posten|language=sv|date=21 January 2019|access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref>
== Aftermath ==
In Morocco, news of the attack was met with widespread outrage and condemnation. The incident received extensive coverage in the international press. Reactions in the native countries of the victims were of shock and outrage. A public torchlit vigil was held in Ueland's native town of [[Bryne]] in support of her family and loved ones.<ref name="NRK" />
Vigils for the victims were held in [[Rabat]], Morocco at the embassies of Norway and Denmark, along with vigils in [[Marrakesh]] and Imlil.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46662748|title=Morocco vigils for murdered Scandinavians|date=22 December 2018|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2018-12-23}}</ref>
Two videos, one depicting the murder, and another where the suspects filmed themselves swearing allegiance to [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIS]], were published onto social media.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/family-urges-public-not-to-watch-scandinavian-tourist-decapitation-video/news-story/cb8d0318432609d83a5da743c025ab27 |title=Family urges public not to watch Scandinavian tourist decapitation video |first=Marnie |last=O'Neill |date=27 December 2018 |access-date=24 April 2019 |work=news.com.au}}</ref> Moroccan authorities and Norway's [[Kripos|National Criminal Investigation Service]] agents have said the videos are authentic.<ref name="CBSNews" />
== See also ==
* [[Kayla Mueller]] - American activist and aid worker abducted by [[Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant|ISIS]] and later killed
* [[Neuschwanstein Murder|Neuschwanstein murder case]] in June 2023
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==Further reading==
*{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/article/396170213/Morocco-Links-Daesh-To-Murder-Of-Scandinavian-Tourists|title=Morocco links Daesh to murder of Scandinavian tourists|publisher=Middle East Monitor (MEM) on Scribed}}
{{Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jespersen, Louisa Vesterager and Ueland, Maren}}
[[Category:2010s murders in Morocco]]
[[Category:2018 crimes in Morocco]]
[[Category:2018 murders in Africa]]
[[Category:Attacks on tourists in Africa]]
[[Category:Deaths by person in Morocco]]
[[Category:December 2018 crimes in Africa]]
[[Category:Denmark–Morocco relations]]
[[Category:Female murder victims]]
[[Category:Filmed killings]]
[[Category:Incidents of violence against women]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in Morocco]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2018]]
[[Category:Islamism-related beheadings]]
[[Category:Morocco–Norway relations]]
[[Category:Stabbing attacks in 2018]]
[[Category:2018 disasters in Morocco]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Africa in 2018]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Morocco]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents involving knife attacks in Africa]]
[[Category:Violence against women in Morocco]]