Scandalous sentences against two members of ASVDH
22/05/2007 | Newsletter
El-Ayoune – Western Sahara
Tuesday May 22, 2007
Two human rights defenders and members of the ASVDH, Mr. Brahim SABBAR (Left), secretary general, and Mr. Ahmed SBAI (right), member of the council of coordination, appeared, today, Tuesday May 22, 2007, before the Court of Appeal of El Ayoune. The two human rights defenders, held in black prison, had been condemned, in first authority to one year of firm prison, on March 6, 2007. The court decided to condemn the two members of the ASVDH to six months more for each one. Making in total one year and half for each one of them. The court also decided, in a second file to maintain the same sentences pronounced by the court of first authority, on March 6, 2007, with regard to the Sahrawi political prisoners, Mr. Elhafed TOUBALI, Mr. Mohamed Lehbib ELGASMI and Mr. Mohamed Salem AHMEIDAT, namely three years of firm prison.
We point out that the court changed the schedule of the lawsuit which was to take place at midday. But the audience started at 10: 00 of the morning so as to prevent a French and two Spanish lawyers to attend the lawsuit.
Also, the court was encircled by a large number of the Moroccan repressive forces which have prevented a great number of Sahrawi citizens from reaching the courtroom. The great human rights defender and the political ex-prisoners, Mr. Sidi Mohamed DADACH, was held for 20 minutes and was prohibited to enter in the courtroom. In the same way the Sahrawi activist, Miss. Khadija MOUTIK, was held in front of the court and took towards the police center, at 10: 00 of the morning, where she was beaten before being released towards 13: 00. Moreover, the Sahrawi lawyer and copresident of the CORELSO, Mr. Ennaâma ASFARI, was also prohibited to reach the courtroom.
We also recall that Mr. SABBAR, survivor of the secret bagne of Kalaat M’Gouna, where he had spent ten years of forced disappearance, was condemned, in first authority, on June 27, 2006, and in appeal, on July 20, 2007, to two years of firm prison, in a first file, in company of the Sahrawi political prisoner, Mr. Ahmed Mahmoud HADDI ELKAINAN, condemned to three years of firm prison, and his brother, Mr. Mohamed Lamine HADDI, condemned to one year with deferrement. We also point out that Mr. SABBAR, who has been harassed on many occasions and had been deprived of visitation rights, continuous to be subjected to ill treatment.
The ASVDH considers the sentences, now pronnounced by the Court of Appeal of El-Ayoune, is another proof on the bad intentions of the Moroccan authorities in its regards. The Moroccan authorities which continue to refuse to the ASVDH the right, which is recognized by the administrative court, to work in accordance with the law in force, are decided to continue to deprive this association of its right.
