Repression against ASVDH continues
06 Aug 2007 | Information/Update
El-Ayoune – Western Sahara
As opposed to what the Moroccan state pretends, with regard to the respect of Human Rights in Western Sahara, ASVDH continues to be subject of persecutions by the Moroccan authorities. After the sentencing of Mr. Brahim SABBAR and Ahemd SBAI, the imprisonment of Mr. Mohamed TAHLIL and the arrest of Mr. Sadik BOULLAHI, Mr. Daha ERRAHMOUNI has been, once again, victim of the oppression of the Moroccan security forces. Mr. ERRAHMONI, a member of ASVDH’s executive committee, victim of forced disappearance between 1987 and 1991, and one of the founders of the movement of human rights in the Western Sahara, was detained in front of his house today, Monday August 6, 2007, around 17: 45 GMT. The Moroccan police force confiscated his car.
We point out that the Moroccan police force confiscated the cars of Mr. Nicola QUATRANO, an Italian judge, and Mr. Hassanna DOUHI, on Friday August 3, 2006. These repressive practices against the Sahrawi citizens, foreigners and the members of ASVDH show in all clearness the determination of the Moroccan State to continue its repressive policy in Westren Sahara and to deny ASVDH its right to work as an association of human rights. Also, the house of Mr. ERRAHMOUNI was subjected to a monitoring by the Moroccan police force for three days.
Mr. ERRAHMOUNI was released around 20: 00 GMT after being questioned and taken for a photograph but without no charge being addressed to him. Mr. ERRAHMOUNI affirms that the Moroccan police force inquired into Mr. Mustapha DAH, victim of forced disappearance and member of ASVDH.
In front of this escalation, ASVDH greatly denounces the detention of Mr. Daha ERRAHMOUNI and calls on the international community, especially the UN, to take urgent measures to impose respect of the human rights in Western Sahara. In the same way, ASVDH calls for the release of all Sahrawi political prisoners. The international community should impose this release as one of measures of good will of Morocco which will take part in the second round of the negotiations with the POLISARIO Front on August 10, 2007 in New York.