Moroccan military court agrees to move Degja Lachgar out of solitary confinement

06/01/2010 | Political Prisoners

Dagja Lachgar

ASVDH’s detailed report on the worsening health situation of Mrs Dagja Lachgar, held in Salé prison north of Rabat since October 8, 2009, and the negative effects of the harsh prison conditions that she has suffered there, has had an impact on her case.

Also, the intervention of Mrs Khadija Merouazi, Secretary General of the Mediation for Democracy and Human Rights in Morocco, before the Moroccan military court in Rabat helped Ms Dagja Lachgar, a prisoner of conscience and member of executive office of ASVDH, before two psychologists.

Their expertise has been presented to the the Moroccan military court judge, attesting to her fragile psychological status. As a result, the prison administration transferred Ms Degja Lachgar to a cell with six common law female prisoners.

Background

Ms. Dagja Lachgar was arrested in October 2009 in Casablanca with a group of 6 other human rights activists, including the President of the ASVDH. She was detained since that time in a solitary cell without the most basic sanitary facilities. She was psychologically harassed constantly by guards and inmates in neighboring cells.

The arrest had been processed through the Moroccan authorities after the return of the 7 activists to a visit to the Saharawi refugee camps near Tindouf, Algeria.

They were interrogated for more than a week by the highest levels of Morocco’s Intelligence services before they were referred to a military court in Rabat. This procedure meant that the penalties can be very heavy and can not be appealed.