A controversial trial of a leader of Morocco´s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) began Tuesday in the northern Moroccan city of Fez.
The trial was soon adjourned to 12 February 2019, according to local media.
The leader, Abdelali Hami al-Din, is being prosecuted in a case in which he was sentenced in 1993 to a student at the University of Fez in a quarrel between left-wing and Islamist students that killed one of the left-wing students, Mohamed Ait Lajid.
He was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of "participating in a morse fight during which violence led to death."
In July 2017, the relatives of the deceased student filed a new suit before the examining magistrate, who decided in November 2018 to prosecute the Islamic leader with the reclassification of the facts, according to Media 24 news website.
"This trial should not have taken place," said Abdel Samad Idris, a lawyer for the Islamic leader on Tuesday.
"According to the obvious principles of the law, no one can be tried twice" in the same case.
"Justice must be left to do its job," said Jawad Benjelloun Touimi, a lawyer for the civil party.
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) expressed its support for the cleric, while his leader and Prime Minister Saad Eddin al-Othmani described the judge´s decision to retrial as "incomprehensible."
Justice Minister Mostafa Rameed (a leader of the ruling Islamic Party) questioned the independence of the judiciary, angering judges. Judges´ associations denounced "overtaking" and "political bidding".
Like other leaders of the Islamic Party, former Prime Minister Abdellelah Benkirane attended the Court of Appeal in support of Hamidiuddin, who is known to be very close to him.
The University of Fez witnessed many clashes between Islamic students and leftists.
In April 2014, violent confrontations between the two sides left dead.
