Human rights situtation in Western Sahara deteriorating under Moroccan crackdown on civil society
21/10/2009 | Newsletter, Urgent Appeals
Three lawyers representing the defense of the seven Sahrawi human rights activists detained at central prison of Salé (north of Rabat, Morocco) saw the reports of the national team of the Judiciary Police, who oversaw with the General Directorate for Research and Documentation (DGED), interrogations with detainees.
Lawyers say the detained are facing accusations of :
• Endangering the security of the State
• Communication with hostile parties
• Interference with Moroccan diplomacy to undermine the project of autonomy
• Encourage domestic public opinion to cause trouble
During this week, Western Saharan human rights activists have been harassed and threatened. In El-Aaiun, Smara and Boujdour, several Sahrawi citizens were subjected to ill treatment such as the case of Izana Amidane, Ghlana Berhah and Boutenguiza Salha.
Morocco’s restrictions upon freedom of movement have even affected, Mr Sidi Mohamed Deddach DADACH, a former prisoner of conscience who spent 23 years in a Moroccan jail.
Morocco has also targeted former victims of ‘disappearance’, including Ms. Degja Lachgar (secretly detained in 1980 in the city of El-Aaiun) and also Mr Brahim Dahane who (secretly detained from 1987 to 1991).
ASVDH has recorded the persistent and daily violations of human rights in Western Sahara, including torture, threats, arrests, assaults, raids of houses, the prevention of the right to freedom of expression, assembly and peaceful demonstration, the right to physical integrity ,the right security, stability and movement.
ASVDH is concerned about the escalating rate of offenses and predicts worsening of the situation, pushing it towards instability and the continuing of suffering for Western Saharans
As we condemn this repressive policy committed by the Moroccan authorities, we call upon the United Nations to call for
-The release of these human rights activists
-The investigation investigate of torture or ill-treatment in Morocco’s police stations
-The release of all Sahrawi political prisoners, of whom there are dozens in the Moroccan prisons; some of them have been engaged in an open hunger strike for 12 days in El-Aiun’s black prison as a protest against the deteriorating conditions which they face.
Finally ASVDH calls upon all international human rights organizations to work to put an end to the suffering of the Saharawi people, which has lasted for more than three decades and to call upon the United Nations, the Security Council, the Secretary-General and his personal envoy to assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis the continually worsening situation in the territory.
El-Aiun – Western Sahara
11/10/2009
Executive office
