A New Farce of Moroccan Justice

03/12/2007 | Newsletter, Political Prisoners

El-Ayoune – Western Sahara

Today, Monday, December 3rd 2007, the first degree court of El-Ayoune has condemned Mr. Mohamed TAHLIL, chairman of the local committee of ASVDH in Boujdour, to a fine of 120 Moroccan Dirhams ($10 US)! The court — in order to avoid a ridiculous situation in front of the international observers who came to support Mr. TAHLIL — pronounced this sentence before the arrival of lawyers and observers and without the presence of Mr. TAHLIL.

This new farce of the Moroccan court proves that the imprisonment of Mr. TAHLIL and members of ASVDH, Mr. Brahim SABBAR, Mr. Ahmed SBAI, and all Sahrawi political detainees, are only pretenses based on lies, with the aim of curbing the activities of Saharawi human rights defenders.

This new trial for Mr. TAHLIL, who expects another case on appeal tomorrow, Tuesday, December 4, 2007, as well as the progress of the case and the sentence, demonstrates the lack of credibility of Moroccan justice.