Trial of Ennaâma ASFARI, Sahrawi human rights defender, postponed to June
20/05/2008 | Newsletter, Political Prisoners
We recall that Mr. ASFARI was arrested on April 13, 2008 in Marrakech. After taken various places of detention where he suffered mistreatment, he was presented to the general prosecutor on April 15 and has been detained since April 17, 2008 at the Boulemharez prison in Marrakech. On Monday, 28 April 2008 Mr. ASFARI was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment and a fine of three thousand Moroccan dirhams (3.000.00) by the court of first instance of Marrakech on the basis of the following charges:
– Driving in a state of drunkenness
– Possession of a weapon (a knife)
– Having hit a motorist in the eye following a car crash.
Mr. ASFARI, during the trial of first instance, emphasized the political aspect of his judgement and refuted the accusations of the court and maintained he was detained on the basis of his political positions in relation to the conflict of Western Sahara.
The defence of Mr. ASFARI, during the trial of first instance, focused on violations of the Moroccan Penal Code which guarantees the detainee’s right to prevent immediately a family member (which has not been done in the case of Mr. ASFARI) and protection of the physical integrity of the detainees (Mr. ASFARI was beaten before putting him in the police car and was tortured in an unknown location and he was not allowed to see a doctor). The defence also pointed out the contradictions between the witness and the complainant and emphasized the absence of evidence (the complainant denied seeing Mr. ASFARI with a knife, no medical analysis has been conducted to prove intoxication).
