The name "de Fes" refers to a cell of Islamic terrorists that operated out of the Moroccan city of Fez in the mid-1990s.  Members of the Fez cell were responsible for an August 1994 shooting attack on the Atlas-Asni hotel in Marrakech, Morocco, that left two Spanish tourists dead. <P><br /><br />In some ways, the name "de Fes" is somewhat of a misnomer.  Although the members of the group launched their attacks from that city, in reality the group was based in France.  All members were either Moroccan or Algerian immigrants to France, or had dual citizenship.  The Fez cell was part of a larger terrorist network that included several members based in France and other cells in Moroccan cities.  <P><br /><br />While the Fez cell was solely responsible for the Atlas-Asni attack, other members of the larger network were involved in a shooting attack on a Jewish cemetery in Casablanca, and an aborted plan to attack tourist beaches.  After the Atlas-Asni attack, a massive manhunt in both Morocco and France uncovered the network.  <P><br /><br />Although the Moroccan government accused Algerian militants from the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) of funding the Fez cell and those involved in the other attacks, there is no proof that GIA had any role.  <P><br /><br />The Fez cell was made up of three young French Muslims who had been recruited by network leaders from the immigrant slums outside of Paris.  They were Stephane Ait Idir, Redouane Hammadi, and Tarik Falah.  Idir and Hammadi were captured in Morocco with several other members of the network, and were sentenced to death for their role in the attacks.  Falah fled to Germany where he was captured and extradited to France.  In France, Falah was sentenced to five years in jail.  The ringleader of the network, Abdelilah Ziyad, was sentenced to eight years in jail in France for his role in recruiting and organizing the Atlas-Asni attack.  Over 30 other members of the network were tried in France and Morocco respectively and were sentenced to terms ranging from a few years in jail to death.  <P><br /><br />The attacks carried out by the Fez cell and other members of the larger network were intended to destabilize the Moroccan regime and usher in an Islamic government.  In reality, the group's actions led to a large crackdown on Islamic militants in both North Africa and France.  The attacks also led to a clearer understanding of the threat that young, poverty-stricken French Muslims pose when encouraged and coerced by experienced Islamic militants.   <P><br />