Statement following Djimi Ghalia’s leave and foreign travel prohibition

12 Oct 2007 | Statements

El-Ayoune, Western Sahara

The Moroccan authorities have blocked ASVDH’s Vice-President, Ms. Djimi ELGHALIA, from traveling abroad by putting pressure on her employer. Ms. Ghalia’s employer refused to sign the forms permitting her leave, scheduled for October 15 to November 26, and allowing her to travel abroad.

Ms. Ghalia is to participate in a meeting with the International Orgaizations of Human Rights in Europe, which includes Frontline Defenders. She is planning to attend this conference in order to speak on behalf of ASVDH about the human rights situation in Western Sahara, the work of Sahrawi human rights defenders and the Moroccan government’s continuing refusal to recognize ASVDH as a legitimate organization.

This blockage comes shortly after two members of ASVDH participated in the 6th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

This decision is a deliberate policy against human rights defenders, especially ASVDH.

The Provincial Director of Agriculture in El-Ayoune, for whom Ms. Ghalia works, justifies his refusal to sign forms allowing time-off and foreign travel on the necessity to work. However, since Ms. Ghalia resumed her position there in 1993, after her release from enforced ‘disappearance’ in 1991, she has not been assigned work and her presence is merely routine.

This decision is an outrageous punitive measure against Ms Ghalia and is an escalation of the intimidation, restrictions and prohibitions against ASVDH and all Sahrawi human rights defenders in general.

Signed,
Brahim DAHAN
President, ASVDH