MOROCCO is seeking the death penalty for three suspected ISIS jihadists who beheaded two female Scandinavian hikers, prosecutors said yesterday.

Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway, were found dead on December 17 last year near a popular trekking trail in the Atlas mountains.

The suspects confessed to carrying out the brutal killings and posting the video online for other sick Jihadi supporters.

The women were on an unguided trip and camping close to North Africa's highest mountain, Mount Toubkal.

Their killers had claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group in a video posted online just days earlier.

Authorities described them after their arrest as "lone wolves" who had not coordinated the killings with Islamic State.

We can't be lenient toward these human beasts

In closing arguments on Thursday, prosecutor Khalid El Kerdoudi told the jury: "We can't be lenient toward these human beasts."

Morocco has had a freeze on executions since 1993 – meaning the death penalty may be unlikely.

Last month two of the suspects – Abdessamad Ejjoud and Youness Ouziyad – admitted to slaying the women as they slept in their tent.

A third suspect, Rachid Afatti, told the court hearing in Sale near Rabat that he filmed the killing.

ALLEGIANCE TO ISIS

Ejjoud said the video of the murder was shared with other Islamic State sympathisers.

He also admitted that he had beheaded one of the women, explaining: "After failing to join the Islamic State, we decided to do jihad at home.

"I regret what happened and I am still trying to grasp it."

They said they also planned attacks on synagogues and churches.

The prosecutor called for life in prison for a fourth suspect who left the group on the day the murder took place.

Also on trial are 20 people accused of providing the men funding or training.

They face prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life, if convicted.

Lawyers for the women's families are seeking damages from the Moroccan government.

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