Reports

HRW: Human rights conditions deteriorated overall in 2009 in Morocco

29 / 01 / 2010 | Reports

Human rights conditions deteriorated overall in 2009 in Morocco, although the country continued to have a lively civil society and independent press. The government, aided by complaisant courts, used repressive legislation to punish and imprison peaceful opponents, especially those who violate taboos against criticizing the king or the monarchy, questioning the ‘Moroccanness’ of Western Sahara, or ‘denigrating’ Islam.

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Report: Political prisoner Dagja Lachgar held in solitary confinement, Zaki prison, Salé, Morocco

10 / 12 / 2009 | Reports

Part I: Situation of political prisoner Dagja Lachgar in her single cell in the local prison Zaki, Sale

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Human Rights Watch to Morocco: Unacceptable restriction on the right of association in Western Sahara

16 / 11 / 2009 | Reports, Solidarity-Support

Morocco is taking another regressive step on human rights by blocking « unauthorized » visits by foreigners to the homes of Sahrawi activists in Western Sahara, Human Rights Watch said today. Since October 19, 2009, police have interrupted five such visits by Spanish journalists and human rights lawyers, telling them in each case that these visits they require prior clearance from the authorities. This practice, which has no apparent basis in Moroccan law, represents a new restriction on the rights of Sahrawis and of visitors to the region. Previously, plainclothes police generally did not interfere when foreigners entered the homes of known Sahrawi activists, although they often openly monitored such visits from a distance.

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Morocco: Endangered ‘Model’?

16 / 11 / 2009 | Reports, Solidarity-Support

How should the United States relate to a solid ally whose human rights record is better than the norm in its region and better than its own record of 20 years ago — but is now heading in the wrong direction?

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Report: Human Rights Watch: Freedom to Create Associations: A Declarative Regime in Name Only (Morocco)

07 / 10 / 2009 | Reports

This 45-page report says that local representatives of the Interior Ministry often refuse to accept registration papers when a group’s objectives or membership displeases the authorities. Moroccan law permits new associations to come into being simply by registering with local authorities, rather than by requiring prior authorization. The law obliges officials to accept the registration papers.

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Amnesty World Report 2009 for Morocco and Western Sahara

28 / 05 / 2009 | Reports

‘The rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly continued to be restricted. Criticism of the monarchy or views contradicting the official position on other politically sensitive issues were penalized. The authorities used excessive force to break up antigovernment protests. Proponents of self determination for the people of Western Sahara were harassed and prosecuted. Allegations of torture were not investigated, and victims of past human rights violations were not granted effective access to justice. The authorities continued to arrest, detain and collectively deport thousands of foreign nationals. At least four people were sentenced to death, but the government maintained a de facto moratorium on executions.’

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New Amnesty report highlights Moroccan repression of human rights defenders in occupied Western Sahara

14 / 03 / 2009 | Reports

In a new report, Amnesty International has highlighted Moroccan repression against Western Saharan human rights defenders. The report covers the problems faced by human rights defenders across the Middle East. The report notes, « In Western Sahara, as elsewhere in the region, politically motivated administrative impediments have been used to prevent human rights groups obtaining legal registration and curtailing their scope of activities. Thus, the authorities in Layoune have repeatedly refused to acknowledge receipt of the registration application filed by the Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State (Association Sahraouie des Victimes des Violations Graves commises par l’Etat Marocain, ASVDH), leaving it in a precarious legal situation. As it is not officially registered, its members are vulnerable to arrest and detention for belonging to an “unauthorized” organization. Brahim Sabbar, the Secretary General of ASVDH, was sentenced to a two-year prison term on this ground among others before his release in June 2008. »

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Moroccan abuses in Western Sahara 'systematic', 'excessive' according to Human Rights Watch

15 / 01 / 2009 | Reports

Moroccan ‘Police systematically prevented or dispersed peaceful sit-ins or gatherings by groups that favor independence for Western Sahara. They often used excessive force in responding to incidents,’ writes Human Rights Watch in its new annual world report.

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Human Rights in Moroccan Occupied Western Sahara still among worst-ranked according to Freedom House

13 / 01 / 2009 | Reports

« There are two worst-rated territories: Tibet, under Chinese jurisdiction, and Chechnya, where a repressive pro-Kremlim regime continues to struggle with a guerrilla insurgency. An additional 11 countries and territories received scores that were slightly above the worst-ranked countries, and received ratings of 6,7 or 7,6 for political rights and civil liberties: Belarus, Chad, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Laos, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Zimbabwe, South Ossetia, and Western Sahara »

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Morocco Suppressing Rights in Western Sahara, says Human Rights Watch

19 / 12 / 2008 | Reports

Human Rights Watch: « Morocco violates the rights to expression, association, and assembly in Western Sahara, Human Rights Watch said in a new report issued today, revealing stark limits to the progress that Morocco has made in protecting human rights overall. »

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