Moroccan prison guards and staff attack seven Western Saharan prisoners in Salé
15/12/2009 | Information-Update, Political Prisoners
L to R: Brahim Dahanne, Dagje Lachgar, Ali Salem Tamek, Ahmed Nassiri, Saleh Labihi, Rachid Sghaer, Yahdih Ettarouzi
During the routine inspections, the seven Sahrawi human rights defenders detained in the Moroccan prison of Salé were subjected today, Tuesday, to a violent attacks by prison staff, who chanted the national anthem of Morocco and other slogans.
The guards struck Saleh Labihi in his testicals.
The staff said that they thank God for the King’s recent speech, which raised their morale against the nation’s enemies.
Last month, the Moroccan court of first instance originally sentenced Abdellah Dihani and Baba Ali Toumi to one year in prison.
These two students are currently living in dire circumstances since their arrest in November. The prison administration of Okacha, Casablanca, has intentionally isolated them in individual cells, cut them off from the outside world and does not allow them reading material, such as books and newspapers, and their break does not exceed one hour.
The seven Western Saharan prisoners in Salé face similar conditions.
Additionally, the Moroccan Court of Appeals in Agadir reduced the sentences against two other Sahrawi students, Ismaili El-Bachir (from four years to 18 months) and Youssef Lbraik (three years to 12 months).
These two students were originally arrested for participating in a peaceful demonstration organized on November 10 to condemn Moroccan violations of human rights in the Western Sahara.
Newsletter
El-Aiun Western Sahara
15 December 2009
