Australia Western Sahara Association condemns Morocco for Haidar expulsion
19/11/2009 | Solidarity-Support
Aminatou Haidar sleeping in Lanzarote airport (Canary Islands)
Latest Moroccan attack on human rights medalist condemned
19 November 2009
The Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) today condemned Morocco for arresting, detaining and forcibly deporting prominent human rights medal recipient, Aminatou Haidar, from her home in occupied Western Sahara to the Spanish Canary Islands.
“This is yet another vicious attack by Morocco on the human rights of those who speak out.” AWSA President, Lyn Allison said. “Aminatou recently received the Civil Courage Prize, sponsored by the US-based Train Foundation in Washington, DC, and the prestigious Robert F. Kennedy (Human Rights) Award. She has been a prisoner of conscience and a non-violent opponent of human rights abuses by Morocco in Western Sahara.”
Aminatou Haidar has resisted her deportation strongly. She has been ill-treated by police, and, despite the weakness this has caused, has been on hunger strike in the Lanzarote airport in the Canary Islands since Friday. At the same time, she is being forced to sleep in the open air in winter. Aminatou’s health is of enormous concern.
“This appears to be part of a crack down by Moroccan authorities on any Saharawi who expresses support for self-determination for Western Sahara or who protests human rights abuses” said Ms Allison.
“Morocco recently detained seven Saharawis after their visit to family living in the refugee camps in Algeria. It has also blocked visits to the homes of Saharawi activists by foreign human rights lawyers and journalists.”
AWSA urges the Spanish and Moroccan authorities to cease immediately their collusion in this outrageous action and allow Aminatou Haidar to return to her home safely and in good health.
19 November 2009
The Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) today condemned Morocco for arresting, detaining and forcibly deporting prominent human rights medal recipient, Aminatou Haidar, from her home in occupied Western Sahara to the Spanish Canary Islands.
“This is yet another vicious attack by Morocco on the human rights of those who speak out.” AWSA President, Lyn Allison said. “Aminatou recently received the Civil Courage Prize, sponsored by the US-based Train Foundation in Washington, DC, and the prestigious Robert F. Kennedy (Human Rights) Award. She has been a prisoner of conscience and a non-violent opponent of human rights abuses by Morocco in Western Sahara.”
Aminatou Haidar has resisted her deportation strongly. She has been ill-treated by police, and, despite the weakness this has caused, has been on hunger strike in the Lanzarote airport in the Canary Islands since Friday. At the same time, she is being forced to sleep in the open air in winter. Aminatou’s health is of enormous concern.
“This appears to be part of a crack down by Moroccan authorities on any Saharawi who expresses support for self-determination for Western Sahara or who protests human rights abuses” said Ms Allison.
“Morocco recently detained seven Saharawis after their visit to family living in the refugee camps in Algeria. It has also blocked visits to the homes of Saharawi activists by foreign human rights lawyers and journalists.”
AWSA urges the Spanish and Moroccan authorities to cease immediately their collusion in this outrageous action and allow Aminatou Haidar to return to her home safely and in good health.
