Algerian Journalists Committee for breaking siege on Saharawi struggle

Algiers, August 20, 2015 (SPS) - Algerian Journalists Committee in solidarity with Takbar Haddi has invited journalists across the world to act so to break the silence and siege imposed on the struggle of Saharawi people, in a petition addressed to the United Nations.
In a press conference held in the Saharawi media center in Algiers on Thursday, the Committee called for action to ensure the respect for international legitimacy in Western Sahara and the right of the Saharawi people to freedom and independence.
They also expressed absolute solidarity with the legitimate struggle of the Saharawi people to regain freedom and dignity.
Copies of the petition will also be delivered to the European Union (EU), Arab League, African Union (AU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.
The petition have so far signed by intellectuals, journalists and jurists from Algeria, Spain, United States of America, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Portugal, among other countries. (SPS)

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AFAPREDESA urges Moroccan state to unveil fate of missing Saharawi persons

Chahid Al Hafed (refugee camps), August 20, 2015 (SPS) - The Association of Families of Saharawi Prisoners and Disappeared (AFAPREDESA) on Thursday called on the Moroccan state to unveil the whereabouts of the Saharawi missing persons and release immediately all the Saharawi political prisoners incarcerated in Moroccan jails.
In a statement on the occasion of its 26th anniversary, the Association expressed deep concern over lack of respect from the part of Moroccan regime to international legitimacy, calling for enabling the Saharawi people to enjoy their inalienable right to freedom and self-determination.
It also demanded that a UN mechanism to monitor human rights in Western Sahara be established, asking Moroccan state to comply with the principles of human rights.
AFAPREDESA denounced the repressive policy pursued by Moroccan regime against peaceful protests held by Saharawi civilians in the occupied territory of Western Sahara to call for their legitimate demands.
It, moreover, urged the international community to exert pressure on the Moroccan state and the companies involved in the systematic plunder of Saharawi natural resources to stop their activities. (SPS

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Saharawi activist tortured by Moroccan police at Casablanca airport

Casablanca, August 20, 2015 (SPS) - Moroccan police forces on Tuesday severely tortured the Sahrawi activist, Leila Lili, at Casablanca airport on her return from Algiers, where she took part in the 6th edition of the Summer University of Polisario Front and SADR cadres, said a source from the Ministry of Occupied Territories and Communities Abroad.
Moroccan police officers subjected the activist Leila Lili to inspection and degrading harassment of human dignity.
Leila was part of a 50-member delegation of human rights activists coming from the occupied territories of Western Sahara. (SPS)

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Morocco has coerced, bribed, co-opted the international community to prevent scrutiny on its treatment of people in Western Sahara (Kerry Kennedy)

London,  Morocco has coerced, bribed, co-opted the international community to prevent scrutiny on its treatment of people in Western Sahara, Ms Kerry Kennedy said in an article posted Thursday in The Guardian.

Ms Kennedy wrote that “a recent article that appeared in this paper meticulously laid out, through analysis of leaked Moroccan diplomatic cables, the many ways Morocco has coerced, bribed, and co-opted the international community to prevent any scrutiny on its treatment of people in Western Sahara”. A reference to an article posted by Tha Guardian on Juny 17, 2015 under the title of “Leaked cables: Morocco lobbied UN to turn blind eye to Western Sahara in 'House of Cards' operation”.

In this post, the London daily spoke about a UN report that “accuses Moroccan government of intercepting communications and using ‘unethical tactics’ to influence organisation on occupied territory” of Western Sahara.

In order to maintain the status quo, “Morocco has consistently pressured UN to ignore crisis in WesternSahara”, Ms Kennedy said, adding that “Morocco has intensely lobbied the UN security council to block any attempt to include a human rights component to Minurso”, in order to use violent force against Western Sahara population like in the case of Mohamed Lamine Haidala, a young murdered by moroccans last February in El Aaiun.

According to Ms Kennedy, "stories like Haidala’s are all too common in WesternSahara, where there are large-scale human rights violations on a daily basis". “Part of the reason for this complete impunity is that there is no credible third party on the ground doing anything about the human rights abuses taking place there on a regular basis” she added.

Ms Kennedy expressed her desire to see UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to “put the issue of Morocco’s abuses in the territory front and centre” during his visit to the region later this year.

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Home Moroccan police arrests young Sahrawis

Dakhla (Occupied Territories), 26 July 2015 (SPS) - Moroccan police patrols launched Saturday evening in the occupied city of Dakhla an arrest campaign, according to the Ministry of Occupied Territories and Community Abroad.    

During this campaign, Moroccan police arrested young Sahrawis Ahmed Yacoub, Mohamed Limam, Fateh Ahmedzain, Ahmed Graimish, Adnan Bouila and Ahmedfal Brehma. They were arrested on the background of their participation in peaceful demonstration in the city demanding the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination.

The families of the young Sahrawis, supported by Sahrawi citizens, headed immediately after their arrest to the headquarters of the Moroccan police commission in the same city to demand the release of their sons, which led the Moroccan authorities to release Sunday morning two of them - Mohamed Limam and Ahmedfal Brehma - While others remained in detention. (SPS)

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Moroccan authorities threaten director of Media Team for hosting Al Jazeera English TV correspondent

El Aaiun (Occupied Territories) 07/12/15 (SPS) - The Moroccan authorities besieged recently in the occupied city of El Aaiun the home of Sahrawi activist and director of the Media Team, Ahmed Tanji, for hosting  Al Jazeera English TV correspondent journalist Karlos Zurutuza.

The Saharawi activist received insults, threats and degrading comments from the Moroccan police for receiving journalist Karlos Zurutuza, who is also correspondent of other international media.

The journalist, constantly followed and watched by the Moroccan police elements, was in the city to meet with human rights activists such as Aminetu Haidar, Sidi Mohamed Dadach and other.

Al Jazeera English TV correspondent Karlos Zurutuza had visited the Saharawi refugee camps and the liberated zones of Western Sahara in 2012 and conducted an interview with President Mohamed Abdelaziz.

He is an independent journalist and regular contributor to news agency Inter Press Service (IPS). He has worked for more than 10 years for the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, it should be recalled. (SPS)

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Family of martyr Mohamed Lamine Haidala renews call for investigation into assassination of her son

El Aaiun (occupied territories), July 10, 2015 (SPS) - Family of the Saharawi martyr Mohamed Lamine Haidala has once again renewed their call for an independent investigation into the reasons and circumstances behind the assassination of their son, holding Moroccan state responsible for the crime.
In a statement to SPS, the family hailed the very commendable efforts of those who stood by the side of mother of the martyr, Takbar Hadi, in her hunger strike, including of which international personalities, Spanish political parties, human rights organizations, associations, institutions and parliaments.
The statement deplored the move by Spanish authorities to prevent Takbar from continuing her open hunger strike outside the Moroccan Consulate in Las Palmas de Gran Canarias, Spain.
The family also reiterated attachment to the legitimate demands Takbar Hadi has already claimed in various international forums, lastly of which the 29th session of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations. (SPS)

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Polisario Front becomes party to Geneva Conventions, launches solemn appeal to companies operating in Western Sahara

Berne, June 27, 2015 (SPS) -  The Polisario Front, through an approach with the Swiss Federal Council, as the depositary of the Geneva Conventions, declared that it is "committed to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Protocol I in the conflict between it and the Kingdom of Morocco," according to a statement by Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO Mhamed Khaddad.

In 1975, the Polisario Front unilaterally declared that it would respect the right of the Geneva Conventions, and it has always remained so. The declaration on June 23, 2015 has a different scope since it was accepted by the Swiss Federal Council, and thus establishes the Polisario Front as a subject of international law and only "authority representing the people of Western Sahara fighting for its right to self-determination" (Article 96.3 of the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of 1949).

 This declaration was immediately transmitted to all signatory States, and it has immediate effect. Morocco is itself a signatory, the conflict between the Polisario Front and Morocco is thus entirely governed by the provisions of international humanitarian law, which equally binds the parties to the conflict (Article 96.3, c).

A military occupation

In 1975, the International Court of Justice said that Morocco could not claim any sovereignty over Western Sahara. Also, by invading the territory, Morocco has become an occupying power under the Geneva Conventions. Western Sahara remains on the list established by the United Nations of non-autonomous territories to be decolonized (UNGA, Resolution 34/37 of 21 November 1979).

The Polisario Front is determined to use all facets of international law to achieve its goal, the self-determination referendum, and to do this it will take all legal actions it deems necessary..

A solemn appeal to companies

Numerous companies believed they could carry out their activities in Western Sahara with Moroccan authorizations under the pretext that Morocco would be the "de facto administrator". However, no text of international law gives content to the notion of "de facto administrator ", moreover, in flagrant violation of international law, Morocco proclaims it has "sovereignty" over the territory.

After this strong act which is the signature of the Geneva Conventions, the Polisario Front solemnly appeal to all companies operating in Western Sahara. The Polisario Front offers all its representations worldwide to explain why they, too, are required to respect international humanitarian law, which prohibits the exploitation of natural resources without the agreement of the Polisario Front, the only representative of the Saharawi people.

The Polisario Front will launch an information campaign towards these companies, to urge them to take their illegal and civil responsibilities and to remind them that they should deal only with the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

The right of the Geneva Conventions has somehow become a civil constitution of the Saharawi people, applicable throughout the territory of Western Sahara. The Polisario Front, determined to build its future by judicial implementation of international law, reserves the right to undertake all the procedures that it deems relevant. (SPS)

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US Department of State: Moroccan security forces engaged in torture, beatings, and other mistreatment of Sahrawi detainees

Washington, 27 June 2015 (SPS) – The US Department of State confirmed in its report on human rights for 2014 that credible reports indicated that the Moroccan security forces engaged in torture, beatings, and other mistreatment of Sahrawi detainees in both political cases and ordinary criminal cases.

The US Department of State evoked in its report that “the August 4 report of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention noted the working group received numerous complaints that authorities in El Aaiun used torture and mistreatment to extract.

“In his February 2013 report on a 2012 visit to the territory, Juan Mendez, UN special rapporteur on torture, stated that authorities used torture and mistreatment to extract confessions, including at the time of arrest, in police stations, and at the El Aaiun Prison.”

“The report noted credible testimonies relating to rape, severe beating, and isolation for weeks, particularly of inmates accused of participating in proindependence activities.”

“Both international and local NGOs continued to report abuses, especially of Sahrawi independence advocates. Activists who were detained and subsequently released, as well as family members of many of those still in custody, made similar accusations.”

“The August 4 report of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention noted that among other abuses, the working group received numerous complaints of arbitrary detention.”

“According to the August 4 report by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, allegations indicated that police regularly raided the private homes of alleged or known supporters of independence for Western Sahara, beating and mistreating residents.”

The Moroccan government enforced strict procedures governing NGO representatives and political activists meeting with journalists, the US Department of State’s report further confirmed. (SPS)

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UN Human Rights Council : The Saharawi delegation organize a workshop on human rights

Geneva, 06/26/2015 (SPS) .- The delegation attending the works of the 29th session of the United Nations Council for Human Rights organized a workshop on human rights in Western Sahara where the mother Sahrawi Takbar Haddi briefed on the circumstances of the assassination of his son Mohamed Lamine Haidala.
Ms. Haddi asked to pressure Morocco to get him to respond to her legitimate claims to know the truth surrounding the murder of his son and punishment of the culprits.

Another presentation was dedicated to the Saharawi woman where Laala Yahdih, on behalf of the National Union of Saharawi Women expounded harsh conditions suffered by Saharawi women in the struggle for national liberation as well as those experienced by women in the occupied territories where they are constantly exposed to acts of rape and abuses of all kinds.

In the workshop dedicated to self-determination, the Saharawi cause was present in strength. The speakers emphasized the need to respect the right of peoples to choose their destiny, especially the Saharawi people, and the need to find ways to transmit the voice of the peoples to the different international institutions. SPS

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CODAPSO publishes its annual report on violations of human rights in Western Sahara

El Aaiun(occupied territories) June, 23 2015 (SPS) -The Committee to Defend the Right of Self-Determination of the People of Western Sahara (CODAPSO) released its annual report on the situation of human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara during the period between May 2014 and April 2015.  The report highlights the brutal violations that have suffered the Saharawi civilians in the occupied territories by the Moroccan forces of occupation in cities such as Laayoune, Smara, Al-Marsa, Boujdour and Dakhla.


The report of 51 pages is divided into several sections including; civil rights of Sahrawi citizens violated by Moroccan and the violation of national and international laws by the Moroccan occupation authorities, as well as the activities of the Committee to Defend the Right of Self-Determination of the People of Western Sahara (CODAPSO).


In this context, the CODAPSO asked in its report that the expand of its mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to include the protection of Saharawi civilians and monitoring the situation of human rights in the territory. "



Finally, the Committee appealed for an end to the phenomenon of political arrests and arbitrary detentions and for an immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience in Moroccan jails ". SPS

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AFAPREDESA calls for an independent, impartial and permanent monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara

Geneva, June, 23 2015 (SPS) -The Association of Families of Saharawi Prisoners and Disappeared (AFAPREDESA) called for  an implementation of a mechanism for independent, impartial and permanent monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara during his intervention as the representative and  member of AFAPREDESA Mr. Ali Buzeid in the Twenty-ninth Session of the Human Rights Committee of the UN.


In  his speech, Mr. Buzeid highlighted the visit of Human Rights mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), noting that "so far has not been implemented on the ground any of the recommendations made by the mission”.


In this regard, AFAPREDESA stressed that "all violations of human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara are directly or indirectly result of a breach of the commitments of the international community to respect the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination ".



AFAPREDESA asked the United Nations to ensure the protection of citizens who offer their testimony to human rights missions in order to preserve the credibility of the organization.SPS

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EU "concerned" about violation of human rights in Saharawi occupied territories

Brussels, 06/22/2015 (SPS).- The European Union (EU) reiterated, in a report, its "concern" about the situation of human rights in Western Sahara, constantly violated by the Moroccan occupation authorities, and expressed its preoccupation about the ongoing conflict in the territory.

In its annual report on the situation of human rights and democracy in the world in 2014, released on Monday, the EU expressed its concern about reports that say that conditions in moroccan prisons in Western Sahara are "deplorable" and the occupying forces continue to use torture against Saharawi prisoners.

The EU's report comes after the publication of recent reports by Amnesty International and the Norwegian Aid Organization on torture and violations of human rights perpetrated by the Moroccan authorities in Morocco and the Saharawi occupied territories.

The blows, sitting in painful positions, asphyxiation, as well as psychological or sexual violence are among the torture methods used by Moroccan security forces to have "confessions", Amnesty International had regretted.

The report shows that some people risk torture upon arrest and during their detention. Too often, the courts ignore the complaints and continue to be based on evidence obtained under torture to pass judgments.

Some people who dare to complain and seek justice are even prosecuted for "false accusation" and "false accusation of a crime," concluded the report, noting that impunity persists in Morocco. SPS
 

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The deterioration of Takberhealth’ situation

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, June 18, 2015 (SPS)  -The deterioration of the health of the Saharawi citizen TakbarHaddi day after day. Tuesday was hospitalized for the fourth time, the second in the past two days, after having vomited and coughed up blood.
  Ms. Haddiengaged in a hunger strike since May 15 to demand the clarification of the circumstances of the death of her son Mohamed LamineHaidala.

According to statements by the Saharawi mother, Moroccans offered to deliver to the families of Haddi the body of the young man killed in exchange renounce autopsy.
.

Despite the indifference of the international community and the government in Madrid and the worsening of his health, TakbarHaddi maintained his hunger strike "even if it costs him her life," in her words. SPS

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Saharawi women suffered and continue to suffer the atrocities under Moroccan occupation

Geneva(Switzerland), June 18, 2015 (SPS) .- A Saharawi delegation of civil society in the Saharawi refugee camps , Occupied Territories of Western Sahara and the Diaspora took part  in the twenty-ninth session of United Nations Council of Human organized in Geneva.


The representative of the Saharwi Women Union said in her speech at the workshop on women and human rights: "Talk of the Saharawi women is to speak of the suffering of an entire people who have an occupation after a occupation for a century, the Spanish colonization of Western Sahara It was replaced by the Moroccan military occupation in 1975.

"The Sahrawi women living in occupied Western Sahara have been imprisoned in the Moroccan secret prisons in Sla Tazmamarat prison and Agdz among others, its walls bear witness to the sufferings of the Saharawi, especially women as Haidar and Degja Lachgar. Outside the prisons, Sahrawi women also receive their share of punishment and torture through forced their children or their murders disappearances and arrests of their husbands."  Underlined the representative

"We are here today to show with live testimonies daily violations that we suffered by the ;Moroccan occupation forces in the streets of our cities where our demonstrations are dispersed with,beatings and torture, peaceful demonstrations demanding the right of the Saharawi people self-determination and independence. "  Added in her speech SPS

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Saharawi President urges UN chief to intervene over hunger striker Tekber Haddi issue

BIR LAHLOU(Occupied Territories) June 10, 2015 (SPS) - Saharawi President Mohamed Abdelaziz called on UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon, on Tuesday, to urgently intervene in the case of Saharawi citizen Tekber Haddi, who is on hunger strike after the murder of his son by Moroccan settlers in occupied al-Ayun, and whose demands are disregarded by Moroccan authorities.


"We draw your attention to the serious health condition of citizen Tekber Heddi, the mother of victim Mohamed Lemine Haidalla, and who is on an open hunger strike outside the Consulate of Morocco in Las Palmas, Spain, since 15 May 2015, and whose demands are disregarded by the Moroccan occupying power," Mohamed Abdelaziz, president of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and secretary-general of the Polisario Front, said in a letter he sent to Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday.

Mohamed Lemine Haidalla died on 8 February 2015, at a hospital in the Moroccan town of Agadir, "as a result of an odious attack in the occupied town of al-Ayun, Western Sahara, perpetrated by five Moroccan settlers on February 3."


Haidallah was subsequently arrested and tortured in spite of his serious health condition, nearing death, and didn't receive the required assistance or care in police stations, courts and hospitals," Abdelaziz added in his letter. SPS

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PM. David Cameron urged to intervene to bring justice to Haidala (letter)

London, 05/06/2015 (SPS).- “Friends of Western Sahara”, a British NGO based in north Wales, has stressed on the urgent need to intervene before the Moroccan authorities to bring justice to Takbar Haddi, the mother of Mohamed Lamine Haidala, a young Saharawi who was killed by Moroccan settlers.
In a letter addressed to Mr. David Cameron on May 22nd, the NGO shed light on the critical situation of Takbar Haddi who has been staging an open hunger strike since the 15th of May denouncing the killing of her son, demanding that the killers should be brought to justice and that the body of her beloved son be recovered and buried decently. The letter reminded that “so far, the Moroccan settlers who killed her son have not been arrested and more seriously the Moroccan forces continue raiding her house, attacking, beating and messing out with her house’s belongings to intimidate her family and force it to accept Moroccan authorities blackmail tactics”. The NGO warned that Takbar’s health is seriously deteriorating following the hunger strike and that her life is at stake as “she reiterates her readiness to die if justice is not brought to her son”.

In her battle for dignity, the NGO highlighted that Takbar has been invited to address the European Parliament “ Following a formal invitation, Takbar has addressed the European Parliament on 21st of May and explained her situation before a group of parliamentarians and the press and, then, she came back to the Canary Islands to pursue her hunger strike”.
The letter, at the end, called Mr. David Cameron to uphold all necessary measures to insure the safety of Takbar Haddi by urging the Moroccan authorities to bring justice to her son “we would be most grateful, Mr. David Cameron if you would bring this letter to the urgent attention of the parliament, to intervene before the Moroccan authorities to resolve this human issue that is putting the life of Takbar at stake asking the that justice should be immediately implemented”. SPS

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International solidarity campaign with Takber continues in Spain

Las Palmas (Canary Islands), June 03, 2015 (SPS) - The Canary platform, bearing the name “JUSTICIA PARA HAIDALA!, has launched an appeal to participate in a protest march under the theme “the Spanish government, Mohamed Lamin Haidalla, is your responsibility", as a form of solidarity with Takber Haddi , on hunger strike since days.
The platform recalled the critical health condition of Takber, after having been transferred twice to hospital, calling on the Spanish government to assume responsibility towards Takber and the Saharawi people in general.
On the other hand, the Sahrawi Regional Bureau in Cantabria Province and the Association of Alouda have organized a demonstration in solidarity with Takber. (SPS)

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Letter from President of Republic to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Chahid El Hafed, May 29, 2015 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Frente Polisario Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz on Wednesday sent a letter to the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, concerning the violations of human rights committed by Morocco against the Saharawi people and the visit conducted on April 2015 by a UNHCHR’s technical mission to the occupied Saharawi cities of El Aaiun and Dajla.
President Mohamed Abdelaziz reminded Al Hussein that Western Sahara “remains a non-self-governing territory, therefore, any denial of this reality violates the UN resolutions that recognizes neither Morocco’s sovereignty nor its administration over the territory.”
“We are extremely surprised for not having been contacted before the start of the Technical Mission and reject the fallacious pretext presented by some parties that the purpose of the mission is to strengthen the representation of the Moroccan Council for Human Rights,” writes the President of the Republic, noting that granting this status to such bodies “violates Paris Principles, as it is about a Moroccan national association has no legitimacy to play a formal role in the non-autonomous territory of Western Sahara.
“We are also extremely astonished that the meetings held by members of the Mission with Saharawi human rights did not take place at the headquarters of MINURSO, whose officials have always said they never refused to host such meetings,” underlined the letter.
“We expect answers to these observations to avoid any confusion in the future and ask that a report be published on what the Mission has heard and seen on the ground of the human rights violations, particularly police abuses the Mission members could assess during their visit,” concluded the President of the Republic, in his letter to the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights. (SPS

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CAT declares admissible Naama Asfari’s complaint against Morocco

Paris, May 29, 2015 (SPS) - The Committee Against Torture (CAT) declared “admissible” the complaint filed by Naama Asfari, Saharawi human rights defender, against Morocco, urging Rabat to respond to the victim’s accusations, informed Thursday the Action by Christians Against Torture (ACAT) in a dispatch published on its website.
Arrested on 7 November 2011 in occupied Saharawi city of El Aaiun, Naama Asfari accused Moroccan authorities of having tortured and convicted him on the basis of forced confessions, extracted with impunity.
Asfari is part of a group accused of being behind the Saharawi protest camp, known as Gdeim Izik, erected in October 2010 in protest to the living conditions of the Sahrawi people in the occupied territory of Western Sahara.
ACAT points out that Naama Asfari “was beaten until he lost consciousness during his arrest after being interrogated and tortured for five days, first at police station and then at gendarmerie station in El Aaiun, where he was arbitrarily detained without informing his family.”
“On 12 November 2011, he was brought by night before the court in El Aaiun to sign a register under duress, before being transferred along with other Saharawi prisoners into Salé prison in Rabat, to be tried by a military court, despite being civilian,” added ACAT.
“On 16 February 2013, after more than 27 months in custody, he was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment by the military court in Rabat alongside with 23 co-defendants also sentenced to long prison terms, following nine days of an unfair trial marked by the extraction of confessions obtained under torture. No medical examination or investigation was conducted with respect to the allegations of abuse made repeatedly by almost all of the defendants,” the same source highlighted. (SPS)

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