URGENT : Arbitrary detention and torture within the Moroccan judicial police center in El-Ayoune

08 Jun 2007 | Information/Update, Urgent Appeals

El-Ayoune – Western Sahara
Friday June 8, 2007

The Moroccan forces of repression, in a new escalation of repression, have arbitrarily detained five young Sahrawis, mostly minors, since June 1, 2007, who are still detained and thus the legal timelimit of police custody has expired.

On Friday June 1, 2007, the Moroccan repressive forces arrested Mr. Bachraya LACHGAR, as a hostage, who was not released until Sunday June 3, 2007, after the arrest of hisbrother, Mr. Echrif LACHGAR, born in 1989, who is still detained in the center of the judicial police.

Likewise, and since Friday June 1, 2007, Mr. Laaroussi ELBARBOUCHI, born in 1990, Mr. Aabidine KRAITA and Mr. Laaroussi BABEIT, are also in a state of detention in the center of the judicial police. According to some sources, all these prisoners were savagely tortured.

Moreover, Mr. Laaroussi ELBARBOUCHI, Mr. Echrif LACHGAR and Mr. Laaroussi BABEIT were violated by using a bottle, whereas Mr. Echrif LACHGAR and Mr. Aabidine KRAITA were victim of attempted murder by strangling using a cord.