Morocco forcibly expels Aminatou Haidar to Spain

14/11/2009 | Newsletter, Urgent Appeals

Aminatou Haidar

ASVDH has learned that the Moroccan authorities have forcibly expelled Aminatou Haidar to the Canary Islands today, 14 November 2009.

Aminatou Haidar, a Western Saharan rights activist and President of the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders, has received numerous human rights awards in Europe and the United States, including this year’s Civil Courage Prize.

She was detained at the airport of El-Aaiun, Western Sahara, as she was returning from a visit abroad. Moroccan authorities held her for nearly 22 hours before sending her to Spain.

Around midnight (13-14 November) Moroccan authorities reported attempted to press Mrs Haidar, in the presence of her family, to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara and to complete the airport arrival form indicating her nationality as Moroccan, otherwise she would not be allowed to return home.

Mrs Haidar refused and so was expelled to Spain by the Moroccan authorities, who seized her passport. She has since refused to leave the airport in the Canary Islands until she is returned to Western Sahara.

ASVDH denounces this forced expulsion of Mrs Haidar as a serious violation of her civil and political rights.

ASVDH calls upon international organizations to help protect the Western Saharan human rights defenders so that they can carry out their just work.