Arrests and intimidations against the Sahrawi human rights defenders in El-Ayoune

20 May 2007 | Information/Update

El-Ayoune – Western Sahara
Sunday May 20, 2007

Three Sahrawi defenders of the human rights were detained, today Sunday May 20, 2007. Mr. Hassanna DOUIHI, Sahrawi militant and Mr. Brahim ELANSARI, member of the AMDH and ASVDH, were arrested towards 12:00 in a car which they drove. They were released only towards 20:00.

Moreover, Mr. Ennaâma ASFARI, copresident of the CORELSO, was also arrested towards 14:00 and is still in detention in the police center of judicial police. These arrests occur in a contexte a campaign of arrests and intimidations which the Moroccan repressive forces carry out against the Sahrawi citizens and human rights defenders.

In this context, the ASVDH is also informed about a wave of intimidations in regard to Mr. Daha ERRAHMOUNI, member of the executive committee of the asvdh, that the Moroccan police force, precisely Abouhassan ICHI, came to inquiry about him in his residence. Also, Mr. Sidahmed LAMJEYID, president of the CSPRON, and the militants and Sahrawi human rights defenders, Mr. Naseur SALMANI, membre od AMDH and FVJ, and Mr. Brahim FARAH, member of AMDH and the phosphat workers syndicat, were subjected to intimidation, this same day, when the Moroccan police force came to inquiry about them in their residences.
Another number of Sahrawi youth and minors, were arrested, following demonstrations which burst in various districts of the town of El-Ayoune. For the moment we have two names: Mr. Ennaâma DAH and Abba Ali Ould SOUDANI. The asvdh has not been able yet to draw up a final list of the prisoners but it is informed about these arrests and will issue the assessment later.

In addition, the Sahrawi human rights defender and political ex-prisoner, Mr. Mahfour DAHOU, was arrested and questioned by the torturer and Morrocan securtity officer in Dakhla, Larbi HARIZ, on Friday May 18, 2007.