Update : 27 June 2006 (2)

27/06/2006 | Newsletter, Political Prisoners

Date : 27 June 2006
Place : El-Ayoune

Today, Tuesday 27 June 2006, ASVDH learned that Western Saharan citizen ElBachir KHAYA was detained while leaving the court of first instance in El-Ayoune. He had attended the judgement of the three Sahrawi prisoners, Mr. Sabbar, ElKainan and Mr Saleh Haddi.

Mr Khaya was recently the victim violence from Moroccan security forces in Boujdour, Western Sahara, when he complained about previous human rights violations against himself and his home. At this moment, we do not have any information on the whereabouts of Mr Khaya or his fate.

We have also learned that Western Saharan citizen Afrik Mohamed Oueld Brahim Oueld Mouloud, member of the Committee of Families of « Disappeared » Sahrawis, has been held for eleven days in an unknown place. Afrik Mohamed was able to call his family today and assured them that he did not know where he is being held, though he thinks he is in El-Ayoune. He is the relative of a number of « disappeared » Sahrawis.

The practice of arbitrary arrest has increased lately:

Western Saharan citizen ELFAKRAOUI and his brother, another Sahrawi youth, were arrested yesterday evening following a demonstration in the Maatallah District of El Ayoun. (ELFAKRAOUI was previously the victim of Moroccan aggression when he was thrown off a building by security forces, causing spinal fractures.)

All of these human rights violations ironically coincide with the election of the president and vice-president of Morocco’s Human Rights Council.