Moroccan court in Marrakesh postpones trial of 3 Sahrawi student prisoners

08/07/2010 | Political Prisoners

Marrakesh’s court of appeal postpone trials of three Saharawi students to July 20.

Balagh Brahim and Ali Salem Bariaz were arrested December, 13, 2008, and incarcerated in Marrakesh’s local prison awaiting trial. Said El Ouaban was arrested June 3, 2009 in Smara and was transferred from Marrakesh to Salé prison because of university exams he too awaiting trial and an official charge .

The Judge Juan Jiménez Vidal and lawyer Fernando Gomilla Mercadal are two international observers attended the hearing as well as Hassana Douihi member of the ASVDH and Sbaii Ahmed secretary general of the Sahrawi Committee for the Protection of Prisoners.

Although the detainees follow-up in the two separately cases the judge of hearing, surprised all by merging the two files and postponed consideration of the case to July 20, 2010.

According to Mr. Abdellah Chalouk in a meeting with the ASVDH, the judge’s decision is a personal initiative. Indeed, such a collective decision to refer more cases can be legally taken only after discussion and consultation with the defense.

Abdellah Chalouk also confirmed that the judge did not follow normal procedures in this case. The intention of this postponement was before the trial and calls into question the impartiality of the judiciary.
Marrakesh, Morocco
08.07.2010