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Ahmed Mahmoud Haddi, who was detained in conditions amounting to an enforced disappearance by the Moroccan security forces in October, is now facing trial on criminal charges and has been remanded to prison. He is believed to have been tortured in custody, and is at risk of receiving an unfair trial.
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‘In a new report issued today, on the fourth anniversary of his speech marking the end of the work of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (Instance Equité et Réconciliation, IER), Amnesty International called on King Mohamed VI to honour the expectations raised by this groundbreaking initiative. With the establishment and work of the IER, the Moroccan authorities promised to tackle the legacy of gross past human rights violations in Morocco and Western Sahara which prevailed during the period known as the “years of lead” and provide an effective remedy to its thousands of victims. Despite these promises, only partial truths about violations of the past have been revealed, justice has not been addressed and much needed institutional and legal reforms to ensure that such violations do not recur have not been implemented.’
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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.
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Today, Wednesday, January 6, at 11h00am, a group of Moroccan police headed by Mohamed El-Hassouni (‘the Mustache’), and under the orders of Abdelaziz Anouch (‘Touhima’), detained Mr. El-Garhi Chrif to arrest him. This took place in front of Ms. Aminatou Haidars’ home while Mr El-Garhi Cherif tried to visit her. The human rights activist Ms. Haidar has been under house arrest and blockade since her return to El Aaiun on December 18, 2009.
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Three of the seven Sahrawi human rights activists held in Salé prison, near Rabat, Morocco, since October 8, 2009, were brought before the investigating judge of the Moroccan military court today, Thursday. The judge heard Ms Dagja Lachgar for more than four hours, ascertaining on her mental state before returning her to the prison. Mr Ahmed Nassiri and Yahdih Ettarouzi were brought before the same judge after hearing Ms. Dagja Lachgar.
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Three of the Sahrawi human rights activists held in Salé prison north of Rabat since October 8, 2009, were brought before the investigating judge of the military court in Rabat today, Wednesday. They are Brahim Dahane, president of ASVDH, Ali Salem Tamek, Vice-President of CODESA, Saleh Labihi President of the Sahraoui Forum to Protect Childhood.
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Yesterday Moroccan authorities in Western Sahara stopped meeter between Spanish journalists and a group of Western Saharan human rights activists in El-Aaiun. This happened around 16:00 GMT at the house of Ahmed Sbai, a member of ASVDH. They forced the visitors to leave the house, claiming the ban on speaking to Sahrawi activists. The delegation consisted of Mr. Enrique Rabec (representing Spain’s EFE agency), Trinidad Deribus (Diario Público), Paola Rosas (El Coreo network) and Irina Calvo (Cadena Ser radio).
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‘We are delighted that Aminatou Haidar has finally been allowed home and obtained back her passport,’ said Philip Luther, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. ‘There must, however, be no conditions imposed on her as a result. She, and other Sahrawi human rights defenders, should be able to enjoy their right to freedom of expression without fear of retribution.’
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The brother of Ahmed Mahmoud Haddi told ASVDH that he was finally able to contact his brother personally. He visited him in the Moroccan prison of Oukacha (Casablanca) today December 17, 2009, around 10:00 for 20 minutes. The brother added that his brother began a hunger strike 10 days after his abduction by Moroccan authorities when he was at Timar in Rabat, Morocco.
