Testimony of Kalthoum Lbsair: recent victim of Moroccan police brutality
21/07/2010 | Testimony
Kalthoum Lbsair
Testimony
21 July 2010
El-Aaiun – Western Sahara
Name: Kalthoum Lbsair
ID : ST 190516
Address: N 51 hay Salam
Smara, Western Sahara
I arrived in El-Aaiun, Sunday morning the 18 July in a taxi coming from Smara.
I wanted to come to the reception of the human rights activists’ delegation who were returning from a visit to the Saharawi refugee camps and Algeria.
I took a rest in my uncle’s house in the neighborhood of Al’Ina’ach.
Around 18.00 o’clock, I went into the house of Othman N’dour, a member of the delegation, where his family received supporters and sympathizers in a ceremony for the occasion.
When I arrived at the Boukraa avenue, I was surprised by dozens of police cars surrounding the house of the family of Mr N’dour.
There were also dozens of them in plain clothes, for the various Moroccan security agencies and intelligence.
As many of the Moroccan policemen were visibly aggressive, I decided to go into the house of a member of my family, not far from the place of reception.
An hour later we have heard screaming and we went out to see what was happening outside.
The police chased the Saharawi citizens in order to intimidate and discourage them from gathering outside the house.
I ran up until Boukraa avenue to wait and see the situation from afar. I was accompanied by dozens of Sahrawis awaiting the arrival of members of the delegation.
We were again surprised by patrols of plainclothes policemen who chased us all down in a car.
One of them punched me in the nose. I bled a lot and I fainted.
When I awoke, I looked for the person who struck me as to know why he did that.
He was with a group in civilian dress and uniformed, they insulted and kicked me, shouting words that I do not understand.
He left me lying on the road.
One of the Sahrawi citizens helped me and I walked into his house.
He treated me as he could.
Some Human Rights activists advised me to submit a complaint into the Attorney General of Moroccan king. I did not. Because I already made several complaints, but no responses.
