Arrest of the young Sahrawi, Mr. Mohamed BOUTABAA

26 Jun 2007 | Information/Update

El-Ayoune – Western Sahara
Tuesday June 26, 2007

The Moroccan judicial police force arrested, on Saturday June 16, 2007, at Maatallah district, the young Sahrawi, Mr. Mohamed BOUTABAA, 17 years. This arrest comes following a demonstration which proceeded the same day at the same place.

The young Sahrawi has spent six days in police custody, against the law in force which determines the time of police custody at 48 hours which can be prolonged for other 24 hours on order of the prosecutor general, which is not the case for this young Sahrawi. Mr. Mohamed BOUTABAA was not introduced at the examining magistrate, who ordered his imprisonment, until June 21, 2007.

We point out that this young Sahrawi, student in 9th fundamental year, was constrained to miss his examinations of end of the year which had taken place while he was detained in the judicial police centre. Also, this young Sahrawi had been arrested in company of two other young Sahrawis. One of these two had been released a few hours after his arrest, whereas the second had been held during three days. The three young Sahrawis had been savagely tortured and beaten.

In addition, the asvdh was informed on the case of several young Sahrawis, minors in majority, who have been arrested by the Moroccan police force these last days. Some of these young Sahrawis have passed, in the police station, at least three days, whereas others are still under arrest.

The asvdh remains very worried by these new practices of the Moroccan forces of repression which arrest Sahrawis and hold them in a state of arrest in the police station for several days under torture and the ill treatment before there release as if nothing had occurred. These practices are prohibited by the Moroccan law and by the declaration against torture.

The asvdh, and at the occasion of the day of support for the victims of torture, declares its support for all the victims of torture and the ill treatment, and launches a call, on this occasion, to all the international organizations of the human rights to act to protect the Sahrawi citizens, in particular minors, who are victims of torture and ill treatment and targeted by the Moroccan forces of repression. The asvdh invites also UNO to act in urgency to ensure the protection of the Sahrawi citizens.
Hereafter the last list of the victims of arrest:

1 – Reda ENNASSIRI, 15 years (arrested yesterday and currently N arrest)
2 – Mohamed BOUCHANNA, 14 years (arrested yesterday and currently N arrest)
3 – ELBOUSSATI, 14 years (arrested yesterday and currently N arrest)
4 – Mohamed KOUMAN 14 years (arrested yesterday and currently N arrest)
5 – Brahim DAOUDI, 19 years (arrested yesterday and currently N arrest)
6 – Mohamed LEFKIR, 15 years (detained since Sunday June 24, 2007 and is always under arrest with another young Sahrawi who the asvdh has not been able yet to recognize the name)